Injured XV: The most ‘unlucky’ player, a ‘superstar’ All Black and several Rugby World Cup winners
Split with Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Damian Willemse (South Africa) and Will Jordan (New Zealand).
The fully-fledged start of the mid-year Test window is upon us this weekend and we put together a team of injured stars that is remarkably good.
Injured XV
15 Will Jordan (New Zealand): The superstar has been ruled out for the entire year after an operation on a pre-existing shoulder injury. Jordan is easily one of the most dangerous players in the game and with ex-Crusaders coach Scott Robertson at the helm of the All Blacks it could be his time to spend some time at full-back on the Test scene. He will certainly be missed in black. Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale gets a mention after rupturing his Achilles in a grassroots game.
14 Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina): A triple threat in run, pass and kick but one ruled out with a back injury. Boffelli’s goal-kicking and aerial prowess put him in the top tier of wings on the globe right now and Los Pumas will miss his influence in the back-three. At 29 years old one would think this next World Cup cycle will see the best of the Argentine.
13 Canan Moodie (South Africa): Into the centres on this occasion for the young Springbok, who was also set to push on in a big way at the beginning of the World Cup cycle, but a hand injury keeps him on the sidelines. He is still set to return this year and will add to the rich depth of the world champions with his sensational running ability, physicality on defence and expert spatial awareness.
12 Damian Willemse (South Africa): We had to move the Swiss army knife into the centres for the balance of the team. Willemse is out with a finger injury and will be missed after cementing his spot in the Springboks starting XV during their World Cup win. He is the youngest two-time winner in history who oozes quality and class. The Stormer will be back this season as he will try to continue turning most of what he touches to gold.
11 Max Jorgensen (Australia): One of the longest run-ups to a Test debut in a while is the Australia teenager who still hasn’t played for his country despite being included in several squads. Injury has been brutal for Jorgensen, who is out with a hip injury this time around after injury also ruled him out of last year’s World Cup. When he is fit, he is elusive and an instinctual finisher. We hope his luck improves.
10 George Ford (England): A big blow for England after missing out on the All Blacks series through an Achilles injury. However, it may be a blessing in disguise for the team as the two Smiths, Marcus and Fin, can shoot out to see who will take over the fly-half shirt long-term. Still, the impact of losing Ford is obvious with the veteran so knowledgeable about the game and how to exploit it. He is a top, top player and any side would miss him.
9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland): Perhaps the most influential loss on this list is the Irishman who has seriously cushioned the impact of Johnny Sexton’s retirement through his brilliant game management, decision-making and experience. He is not in South Africa due to a hamstring injury and it will be fascinating to see how the side does without him. All Black Cam Roigard deserves a mention after his unfortunate injury at a time when he could have become the starter for New Zealand.
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Forwards
8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales): There are few players who have been more unlucky with injury than the Welshman, who is out with a fractured shoulder. It truly is a great pity to have a player of his calibre seemingly constantly ruled out. Wales are always a better team when he is in the mix.
7 Jac Morgan (Wales): A real hammer blow for Warren Gatland as his skipper is out with a hamstring problem. Morgan is blockbuster; he is physical on defence, excels at the breakdown and loves a carry. He is the classic lead-by-example kind of openside who will run through walls for his side. The Welshman is the kind of player that can define a Test match.
6 Ollie Chessum (England): The lock/flank hybrid has developed into an important star for the Red Rose under Steve Borthwick due to his immense work-rate and line-out contributions. He is incredibly consistent but misses out with a shoulder injury. His absence opens the door for other players to gain experience.
5 Lood de Jager (South Africa): It would have been incredibly frustrating to miss out on the Springboks’ World Cup glory with a heart issue last year but perhaps even more so now after picking up a shoulder injury following a strong season in Japan. He is a Springboks great and would have been a healthy addition to the squad. However, his absence does allow a natural succession to take place.
4 Jean Kleyn (South Africa): 2023 was a wild one for Kleyn, who changed the green of Ireland for that of the Springboks and took home a winner’s medal as a result. He provides valuable depth in the lock department but is out with a long-term knee injury. As in De Jager’s case, his absence allows the likes of Salmaan Moerat to have a go at the highest level.
3 Keiron Assiratti (Wales): The tighthead is an important cog in the Welsh front-row but misses out due to a foot injury. Assiratti being sidelined puts Gatland’s side under even more pressure as they head down under to face Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies in an interesting Test series.
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho (New Zealand): Injuries have a funny way of timing themselves right when a player is on top of their game and that is the case for the powerhouse hooker. Taukei’aho had been amazing for the Chiefs and certainly had a chance to push for the All Blacks’ starting spot. He misses the England series due to an Achilles issue.
1 Steven Kitshoff (South Africa): A long-term knee injury ended an underwhelming move to Ulster for Kitshoff. However, the loosehead is of the highest quality and chances are he would have found his form in the Springboks set-up. He gets in our side ahead of England’s Ellis Genge.