No Robinson a Super setback for Waratahs - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

No Robinson a Super setback for Waratahs

By Adrian Warren 09/05/2010 04:25:48 PM Comments (0)

NSW's charge to a potential Super 14 home semi-final has been dealt a savage blow with injured scrum linchpin Benn Robinson sidelined for the remainder of the Waratahs' campaign.

The Wallabies prop reopened a fracture in his forearm in the first half of Saturday's 46-19 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The victory lifted NSW up to third and gave them a distinct chance of hosting a semi-final at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Victory over the fifth-placed Hurricanes at the SFS on Friday night combined with a home loss for the second-placed Stormers against the ladder-leading Bulls would be enough for NSW.

However, they will have to continue their quest for a maiden Super rugby title without Robinson.

"We were always going to take him off at halftime," Waratahs coach Chris Hickey told AAP on Sunday.

"Our doctor thought it best to check him and an x-ray showed the fracture had opened up again.

"He will have a scan on Monday and will most likely require a plate to ensure that it gets the best long-term healing.

"That would rule him out for the remainder of the Super 14."

Hickey said he wasn't sure whether Robinson could miss the start of the Wallabies program, but stated that six weeks was the generally accepted time for a fracture to heal.

He was hopeful another Wallabies prop, Sekope Kepu, might be right to return against the Hurricanes after suffering a torn calf two weeks ago.

"The diagnosis was probably four to six weeks, but we will just have to wait and see. Sometimes players recover more quickly than expected," Hickey said.

"We will be assessing his fitness at the start of this week and we will also look at Jeremy Tilse and Dan Palmer as two of our other options."

Hickey was pleased with his team's seven-try effort against the Chiefs.

While wary of a Hurricanes outfit that scored 36 unanswered points against Queensland in Wellington last Friday, Hickey was delighted the Waratahs had regained control of their own destiny.

"That's what we've been hoping for all along," Hickey said.

"If we win the next game, then we'll be confident of a place in the finals.

"And if the Stormers were to lose to the Bulls, we still possibly could get a second place finish and a home semi."

Hickey reported one other injury doubt for next weekend, with outside back Sosene Anesi hurting his shoulder in Hamilton.

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