Sivivatu joins the long list of Waikato wounded

By CHRIS RATTUE


Yet another injury disaster has struck Waikato on the eve of their NPC semifinal, with Sitiveni Sivivatu joining the long-term casualty list.

And the NPC contenders are also upset that Taranaki's Chris Masoe was not cited for a tackle which has ended wing Solo Korovata's season.

Waikato are in hot pursuit of North Harbour's All Black three-quarter Rico Gear for their Super 12 and NPC sides from next season, but they will end this year thin on the ground in that area.

Ace wing and All Black prospect Sivivatu requires a shoulder operation that will sideline him for up to six months, putting Waikato at even longer odds to upset table-toppers Wellington in Friday night's semifinal.

The Fijian-born and raised Sivivatu, who is eligible for New Zealand just after the All Blacks' last game against the Barbarians in London in December, will be out for at least the first four Super 12 rounds next year.

The injuries to Sivivatu and his replacement Korovata in New Plymouth have put former All Blacks Roger Randle and Regan King in the frame for the semifinal.

Young centre Richard Kahui could shift to wing. Randle and King - who are making their way back with Waikato B - are candidates, at least for one bench position.

It is a year since King (groin) played his last big match in the NPC, and Randle (achilles) last played in the Super 12 about 18 months ago.

Waikato have had cruel luck. Sivivatu, Korovata, Todd Miller, Tom Willis, Michael Collins, Scott Couch, Mark Ranby, Loki Crichton, Keith Robinson and Greg Smith are out for the year.

Byron Kelleher (calf) and Dave Duley (thumb) are battling to make comebacks this week, and Randle and/or King would be pressed back into action before they are in top condition.

Sivivatu felt his shoulder go early in Saturday's match and he was forced off when it was damaged again. "It went numb - I knew it might be serious. I felt it wasn't sitting right," he said.

"Getting injured is one of those things. I'm not disappointed - that's life. I'll listen to what people tell me about doing the rehab.

"We haven't talked much about our injuries. It's been amazing seeing all these young guys come in and fill the spaces."

Sivivatu suffered a dislocated shoulder and torn glenoid labrum, a fibrous tissue which helps stabilise the shoulder.

Korovata broke a collarbone and suffered concussion in the Masoe tackle. Waikato chief executive Gary Dawson asked, through the New Zealand Rugby Union, that the match commissioner cite Masoe.

"He obviously saw it differently to us," Dawson said.

"It's the inconsistency thing again - it was a pretty high tackle. We're very disappointed.

"You might look at [Wellington loose forward] Jerry Collins getting sent off on the same weekend and say that the Masoe tackle was worse."

* Collins' latest high shot was careless rather than sinister and shouldn't keep him out of the semifinal, says his victim Paul Miller.

Collins will front up to the NZRU's judicial committee today for flooring the Southland No 8 with a high tackle that threatens to stop him playing against Waikato.

But Miller yesterday said: "I know what it's like up there in front of the judiciary. I don't think he should be out of the semis."

Out for season:

Sitiveni Sivivatu

Solo Korovata

Todd Miller

Tom Willis

Michael Collins

Scott Couch

Mark Ranby

Loki Crichton

Keith Robinson

Greg Smith



Battling back:

Byron Kelleher, Dave Duley



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