Another Mooloo goes under the surgeon's knife

4.00pm

The Waikato NPC rugby team continue to keep the country's surgeons busy.

Added to the bruised pride from a 30-15 home-ground loss to Canterbury on Friday night was the news prop Michael Collins underwent surgery yesterday to have a plate inserted after he broke his right forearm in the match.

He has been replaced in the squad by Nathan White, who returns from the B squad after making his NPC debut earlier in the season.

Collins is the fifth Waikato player to be operated on since the start of this year's NPC, following midfield back Mark Ranby (shoulder), lock Keith Robinson (knee), lock Dave Duley (thumb) and flanker Scott Couch (leg).

Hooker Greg Smith has been sidelined with concussion side effects, which may end his career, and fullback Todd Miller with a knee problem that may mean he has played his last game for the province as he is due to retire at the end of the season.

Tom Willis, Derek Maisey, Regan King and Roger Randle have all recently returned to action after long-term absences due to surgery, Willis and Maisey for the A side and King and Randle for the B team.

Fullback Loki Crichton also had knee reconstruction during the Super 12 and is missing the entire NPC.

Waikato find themselves two points out of the top four after the weekend's matches, sitting in sixth place on 21 points.

Wellington top the table on 26 points after their dazzling 73-28 win over Taranaki in the capital on Saturday, with North Harbour just one point behind after their 20-3 home win over Otago.

Taranaki slip to third on 24 points -- one ahead of Canterbury and Bay of Plenty, the latter 29-24 away victors over Northland. Seven teams are still in the playoff race with seventh-placed Auckland keeping their slim hopes alive on 19 points with their scratchy 30-22 win over Southland in Invercargill yesterday.

- NZPA

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