Rugby: Robbie Fruean set for return

Robbie Fruean is set to be back in Magpies colours. Photo / Duncan Brown

Robbie Fruean has beaten the odds again ... he is eyeing a return to the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team next week.

When Magpies head coach Craig Philpott announced his ITM Cup squad last month, he said Crusaders midfield back-winger Fruean would be unavailable for the season as he was about to undergo knee surgery. Fruean, who has had open heart surgery on two occasions earlier in his career as a result of rheumatic fever he suffered as a 20-year-old, trained with the Magpies yesterday.

"Apart from full contact, Robbie was running at full noise," Philpott said.

"If he can get through a week of full contact next week, he will be considered for our Ranfurly Shield defence against North Harbour."

Philpott pointed out the original plan was for Fruean, 27, to have a full knee reconstruction operation. But when he went into hospital, the anterior cruciate ligament was still 75 per cent intact, surgeons felt there was no need to operate and he could continue playing.

"While Robbie hasn't done any contact stuff, he's done a fair bit of work in Christchurch, including lots of treadmill running."

Fruean was one of the stars of the Magpies' 2014 season. He started all 12 ITM Cup games and averaged 79 minutes a match.

In March, he fractured his arm while playing for the Crusaders against his former Chiefs team. It was expected he would be sidelined for five months but he was back in action after two.

Fruean recalled: "I was quite confident leading into the operation that the knee was only a bit damaged. But I just had to listen and see how it went. I was so happy when I woke up two hours earlier and the surgeons told me I could play again.

"It's good to be back in the Bay. I missed the place and the Magpies' team culture. There are some pretty good new young players, who are hungry and will keep the senior players honest," Fruean said.

"I want to play centre again but, the way Bucky [Richard Buckman] is going, I might have to put the utility card out there. I'll play wherever the coaches want me to play."

Fruean's availability means Philpott and his assistant Danny Lee could have eight backs with Super Rugby experience on their team sheet next week. It will be interesting to see whether they start the former Porirua College head boy or use him in an impact role.

Chiefs utility Andrew Horrell and Highlander Buckman have combined well in the second-five-centre roles respectively to date. Buckman had an average gain of 16 metres from his seven carries during the weekend's win against Otago and made 12 tackles.

Horrell had an average gain of 4.8m from 12 carries and he made eight tackles. Should Israel Dagg make the All Blacks World Cup squad and not be required for ITM Cup play, Zac Guildford may return to fullback, allowing Fruean to play on the left wing where he had time for the Crusaders.

Those possibilities won't enter the minds of Lee and Philpott until after this week's third-round clash against Counties-Manukau in Pukekohe. All Black prop Ben Franks also trained for the first time this season with the Magpies yesterday.

Like Dagg, Franks will play for the Magpies against Counties-Manukau on Friday night.

It will be Franks' third outing for the Magpies and first since the September 2013 win against Northland. Dagg's statistics from the Otago win were further proof he deserved the player-of-the-match award. In addition to his three tries and conversion from wide out with his sole attempt at goal, Dagg made 24 carries for an average gain of 7.1m, three lines breaks and he beat three defenders.

Guildford was the next best in the carries with 16.