Rugby: Injuries leave Highlanders searching for cover

Adam Thomson fell awkwardly and will be out for a month. Photo / Getty Images

The Highlanders face an injury crisis in the outside backs and star loose forward Adam Thomson is out for a month, as the side's lack of depth starts to be exposed.

The side returned from Hamilton yesterday licking its wounds from a 20-7 loss to the Chiefs on Saturday night. The loss put the Highlanders out of the top six, and they will have to recover quickly before taking on the Hurricanes in a key match in Invercargill on Friday night.

They will have to call in reinforcements, especially in the outside backs, where it is almost last man standing as players drop like flies. Both James Paterson and Siale Piutau suffered season-ending injuries on Saturday night, while Kade Poki was a late scratching before the match started as he continues to battle a knee injury.

Paterson fell awkwardly while trying to topple Lelia Masaga in the first half and though he tried to play on, he was forced off. He has ruptured a pectoral muscle and is gone for the season.

Piutau tore an adductor muscle in his groin late in the game and he, too, will not be sighted again this season.

Thomson fell awkwardly just before halftime when trying to run the ball up and did not return after the break.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said though it was not fully clear whether Thomson has damaged rib cartilage or broken a rib, either way he was most probably out for a month.

His loss would be a big blow for the team, which needs to get back into the winner's circle quickly if it wants to figure in the playoffs.

Joseph did not blame the injuries for the loss but said they obviously did not help.

"The injuries always upset the flow of the team, and that certainly happened on Saturday night," he said.

The Highlanders went in with a five forward, two backs split on the reserves bench, and when Piutau left the field late in the game, replacement flanker Nick Crosswell was forced out on to the wing.

"The fact is we haven't got a lot of depth. Everyone knows that. And that is just the way it is," said Joseph. "The good thing about this team is through the loss of players our depth has really been tested. Now we just have to knuckle down and get ready for the Hurricanes on Friday night. That is going to be a massive game for us.

"The thing with playing these local derbies there is an extra physicality to them and they are a lot more intense."

Joseph said in reality they had to go with the five-two split on the reserves bench as they had no other backs in the squad, apart from halfback Sean Romans. Poki is struggling with his knee injury so the cupboard is bare for the Highlanders in outside backs and reinforcements will have to be brought in.

With other New Zealand franchises also feeling the effects of a heavy injury toll, the Highlanders will have to search far and wide for replacements. Possible candidates include new Otago signings Buxton Popoali'i and Ben Atiga, North Harbour winger Nafi Tuitavake, Otago winger Joe Hill, Counties-Manukau winger Ahsee Tuala and Southland utility James Wilson.

Fullback Kurt Baker has not played this season but hopes to get back to the field in the next couple of weeks. He will have to get a medical clearance on his injured back before playing.

CASUALTY WARD

* Colin Slade (broken jaw) - gone for season

* Siale Piutau (torn adductor) - gone for season

* James Paterson (ruptured pectoral muscle) - gone for season.

* Adam Thomson (rib damage) - out for a month

* Kurt Baker (back)- two weeks

* Elliot Dixon (elbow) - one week

* Shaun Treeby (medial ligament strain) - one week

* David Te Moana (calf) - one week

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES