All Blacks scrum-half insists he ‘wasn’t rushed back’ as grim extent of his latest injury is revealed
Noah Hotham in action for the All Blacks, who are coached by Scott Robertson (inset)
Noah Hotham has absolved Scott Robertson’s All Blacks staff of any blame for his latest injury, insisting he wasn’t rushed back into action last Saturday.
The 22-year-old suffered a serious ankle sprain during the July 19 series finale versus France in Hamilton, and his comeback game versus the Springboks in Wellington eight weeks later was restricted to just nine minutes.
The scrum-half left the field after he was injured in a collision with South Africa’s second-row Lood de Jager, and it has now emerged that he has been operated on to mend the clean break suffered to his ankle fibula.
New Zealand Rugby posted: “Noah has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby Championship. He underwent surgery for a fractured fibula on his left ankle. His return to play timeframe is currently being assessed by our medical team.”
“Injury was to the other ankle…”
That NZR message on Instagram was followed by a reply from Hotham, where he told followers that the injury was to his other ankle, not the right one that was hurt against the French.
“Was the other leg than the one previously injured, fam. I was not rushed back; the coaches and medical staff worked excellently together in preparation for my return where I was fit and ready! Just an unfortunate rugby injury this one. Be back soon.”
While a timeframe for his latest comeback has still to be confirmed, what is certain is that Robertson won’t be able to call on the scrum-half for the upcoming two matches against the Wallabies to conclude this year’s tightly fought Rugby Championship.
Hotham is the All Blacks’ third injured scrum-half, with Cam Roigard suffering a foot stress fracture and Cortez Ratima struck down with a broken rib sustained in the August 23 loss away to Argentina.
Head coach Robertson was hopeful last weekend that Roigard and Ratima could be available for round five of the Championship.
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He told reporters following the record 10-43 loss to the Springboks, where sub Finlay Christie took over from the injured Hotham: “It would be a massive boost. It would be good to get a couple coming back the other way.”
The All Blacks have games in Auckland and Perth on September 27 and October 4 against Australia to wrap up a tournament where all four teams are currently on two wins and two losses after four matches.
New Zealand are in third place, one point behind leaders Australia and level on points with South Africa, with Argentina one point further behind.