Surgeon's knife poised over injury-hit Waikato line-up

By CHRIS RATTUE

North Harbour face a depleted Waikato in Hamilton this week, after a day of bad injury news for the Mooloo men.

And the full extent of the Waikato problems will only be known today, when star backs Mark Ranby, David Hill and Loki Crichton have checks with a surgeon in Auckland.

On the plus side, flanker Jonno Gibbes is ready to be selected for Saturday evening's match against Harbour at Waikato Stadium after being sidelined with a groin strain.

But lock Chresten Davis is out for the season and midfield back Ranby will be missing for up to five weeks, while another recent All Black Hill continues to struggle on a groin injury.

X-rays after the win over Southland on Sunday revealed Davis suffered a broken leg and a dislocated ankle that has already had a pin inserted in it. Davis may well have lost his starting place anyway with Royce Willis ready to start after returning from All Blacks duty. But the loss of Davis robs Waikato of bench experience and some lineout height.

It was feared that Ranby had fractured his shoulder, but x-rays revealed a dislocation. It is another blow for Ranby, an All Black last year, who missed much of last season's NPC with an abdominal injury.

And Waikato have a major concern over Hill, whose groin injury flared against his former province Southland. Hill had an operation in mid-May, after the Super 12, which put him out of the All Blacks frame. Hooker Guy Coleman (knee) is also expected to be unavailable again this week.

Crichton (possible knee cartilage) is also doubtful, although his loss will be offset by the return of Todd Miller, who does not play on Sundays.

Miller and brother Brad, who is in the North Harbour squad, were hit on Friday by the death of their father Jim after a short illness. Deon Muir, Rhys Duggan, Willis, Bruce Reihana and Keith Lowen represented Waikato at yesterday's funeral in Whangarei.

On the injury news, Waikato manager Glenn Ross said: "There are other teams worse off. We're not in bad shape at all."

* Wellington fullback Shannon Paku will play his rugby in Auckland next year.

He will finish this season in Wellington but has signed with the Auckland Rugby Union for next season. He will be available for both Auckland and the Blues.

He said: "I feel that Auckland will provide me with the best opportunities with which to further my playing career."