Propping crisis surfaces for Stags as more injuries strike
The cupboard is now close to bare in terms of loosehead propping options and it’s understood the Stags have scoured the country in search of possible replacement players.
The Southland Stags propping options are being severely tested with two further loosehead props ruled out for the remainder of the season.
It was confirmed last week the Stags’ first-choice loosehead prop Joe Walsh would miss the remainder of the season after picking up a calf injury against Counties.
Jonah Aiona replaced Walsh in the No 1 jersey for the Canterbury game and impressed through 40-odd minutes before picking up a hamstring injury. He had to be helped from the field.
He too will now miss the Stags remaining three 2023 games.
To add to the nightmare, fellow loosehead prop Shaun Stodart has also been ruled out for the remainder of the NPC campaign.
Stodart was named on the bench for the Canterbury game but injured his hamstring at the captain’s run in Invercargill on Saturday, before the team departed for Christchurch.
It meant Dunedin-based Hunter Fahey was sent an SOS to make the trip to Invercargill to join the team for the flight to Christchurch.
The New Zealand under-20 prop was expected to spend some time training with the Stags this season but has now racked up three games from the bench.
Fahey now also looms as a likely starter against Hawke’s Bay on Saturday in Invercargill on the back of the loosehead propping injuries.
Paula Latu is able to play both sides of the scrum and would have provided ideal cover at loosehead, but the Stags lost him early in the campaign when he was called up to the Tongan World Cup squad.
The cupboard is now close to bare, in terms of loosehead propping options. It’s understood the Stags have scoured the country in search of possible replacement players.
With three games still to be played in the space of just eight days, there’s plenty of fingers being crossed that more injuries don’t surface at prop.
The Stags are mainly fit in healthy across other positions.
Outside back Rory van Vugt returned against Canterbury and Scott Gregory will potentially return on Saturday against Hawke’s Bay.
Matt Whaanga missed the Canterbury game through injury and is in doubt for Saturday, although the key midfielder is expected to be available for the final two fixtures.
Saturday’s game against Hawke’s Bay will kick-off at 2.05pm.