Propping concerns mount for Southland Stags
Paula Latu will line up in the World Cup for Tonga and now Morgan Mitchell is sidelined with concussion as the Southland Stags tight-head propping stocks take a big hit.
Experienced Southland Stags tight-head prop Morgan Mitchell will miss at least Sunday’s showdown with Auckland following a head knock against Otago.
Mitchell took a knock to the head early in the second half of the Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy clash on Saturday night in Dunedin.
He failed an HIA and has been handed the mandatory 12-day standdown.
Whether he will return following the 12 days depends on if Mitchell is free of any concussion symptoms and can return to training.
Stags co-coach David Hall acknowledged it was a blow given how well Mitchell has been playing.
The scrum has been a strong point for Southland this season, which Mitchell has been a key part of.
His work rate in defence has also been immense, and he also showed his skills in the open in attack against Otago.
The Stags were already one tight-head prop down with Paula Latu getting a late callup to join the Tonga squad for the World Cup.
Quinn Harrison-Jones is now almost certain to start in the No 3 jersey on Sunday which will provide the Marist tighthead with an ideal opportunity.
“Quinn is there so he’ll just have to step up. And a couple of the other boys can play both sides who said they will jump in and help out. But obviously losing [Mitchell and Latu] is tough,” Hall said.
“Hopefully Morgy will be right in the next few weeks, but obviously with concussions, you don’t know.
“It’s tough for the big fella because he’s been going bloody good.”
Jonah Aoina is a loosehead prop but may well find himself having to cover the tighthead side of the scrum on Sunday.
Just to add to the Stag management’s current propping headache, it’s understood first-choice loosehead prop Joe Walsh is also under an injury cloud.
Shaun Stodart is the other option in the Stags squad, while Southland Development tighthead Ben Ruzich and New Zealand Under-20s prop Hunter Fahey have been training with the Stags recently.
Hall said they have been looking at what potential options there might be out there for cover.
However, Hall added it was tough given that tight-head prop was such a specific position.
“We are just keeping our options open there, it will probably be a little bit on how long Morgy takes and how the other guys go.”
On top of the propping drama, there are also concerns surrounding Southland Stags second five-eighth Scott Gregory who picked up a knee injury against Otago.
Hall said Gregory would get scans in the next couple of days.
“We’ll find out a bit more going forward with him. We are not too sure yet, but it might not be as good as we hoped.”
Gregory is set to head to Italy to play following the NPC season.
The Southland-Auckland game will kick-off on Sunday at 2.05pm.
Meanwhile, 500 whānau from 21 local schools will be able to watch Sunday’s game at Rugby Park for free, thanks to Rugby Southland’s partnership with Barnardos - a leading New Zealand children’s charity.
It’s a unique collaboration that aims to bring the thrill of rugby to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity, allowing them to experience the excitement of live sports alongside their families.
Barnardos is dedicated to supporting children who may face challenges that prevent them from thriving.
With the connections of Barnardos’ Social Workers in Schools service built over 20 years, this joint effort seeks to brighten the lives of these tamariki by granting them access to a unique experience and create special memories with their whānau.
The initiative grants the selected schools across the region, from Nightcaps to Tokanui, Bluff to Invercargill, the ability to personally gift tickets to parents, resulting in up to 1,000 children aged 12 and under being able to attend the game for free.
This offering not only fosters family bonding but also ensures that financial constraints don’t stand in the way of children’s participation in attending a Stags game.