Baxter gone for at least 3 weeks

[Spook]

Terrible news for NSW. When are Kepu/Dunning back?

 

[Pfitzy]

Dunning not until June. Kepu in a few weeks I think.

 

[naza]

Today's SMH says Kepu played 40 minutes for Randwick in a club trial on the weekend. So he's close to being in the mix.

 

[Ash]

NSW playing a tight, heavy forward orientated game without rotating is going to see players going down. Doesn't hurt when they don't rest the players - or even worse, making them play carrying injuries (see Baxter, Palu, Waugh).

Anyone remember how the Reds played the first few rounds under Eddie Moans a few years back? Strangled the life out of the opponent packs in the first few rounds until their injury toll wiped them out. NSW has slightly better forward depth, but the same thing is happening.

 

[naza]

Anyone remember how the Reds played the first few rounds under Eddie Moans a few years back? Strangled the life out of the opponent packs in the first few rounds until their injury toll wiped them out. NSW has slightly better forward depth, but the same thing is happening.

I had thought exactly the same thing Ash. Because our pack has to take on such a big load, they already look burnt out.

 

[RugbyReg]

Dan Palmer has been struck down with a virus too.

Shouldn't stop him playing though, unless its the AIDS virus. The article isn't too specific.

 

[naza]

Baxter was ruled out for a month on Sunday after re-injuring a calf muscle, while several other battered Waratahs, including key forwards Wycliff Palu, Dean Mumm and Benn Robinson, sat out training on Monday.

"(Waugh) can't really train for the first couple of days so we'll just have to see how it pulls up by the captain's run (on Thursday)," Hickey told reporters on Monday.

"We've got Ben Mowen who could start at openside (flanker) and we used him on Saturday when Phil came off so that's probably our main option."

Hickey said replacement hooker Damien Fitzpatrick and Beau Robinson could also come into calculations as Waugh's replacement, if needed, in the No.7 jersey.

Palmer's illness comes at a bad time for NSW with Baxter and Matt Dunning sidelined, but Wallaby tourist Sekope Kepu will be available to play his first Super 14 game of the year.

Hickey said he was hopeful of not having to leave Palmer at home.

"We'd hope not but we've had to send him home, he's pretty crook, he's got a bit of a viral infection," Hickey said.

Walking Wounded Waratahs.

The first opportunity in years for the next NSW tighthead to emerge and Palmer is crook and Kepu is on the comeback from injury.