Thursday Round-Up

Thursday Round-Up

Monye to miss three months

Harlequins and England flyer Ugo Monye will be out for three months having injured his groin. The 31 year old left the field in the 27th minute of Harlequins’ season opener against London Irish, having already scored a try. According to Monye’s official twitter he has “pulled the tendon of the bone” in his groin, an injury which will require surgery and a lengthy injury lay off. Quins face Saracens this weekend at the Stoop, and will look towards the likes of Marland Yarde and Asaeli Tikoirotuma to fill the void while Monye recovers.

Recall for Pollard

South African coach Heyneke Meyer has made just one change to the side which narrowly lost to Australia for this weekend’s match against New Zealand. Handre Pollard regains his starting berth at 10, dropping the experienced Morne Steyn to the substitute’s bench. This is the only change to both the starting 15 and the bench, with Meyer naming a settled side to face the reigning Rugby Championship holders. Pollard is seen as a more attacking option than Steyn, and will be tasked with trying to re-ignite the mis-firing Springboks backline. Pollard has just two test caps for South Africa, but was recently named IRB Junior Player of the Year having lead his country to second place in the junior World Cup.

Cruden returns to fly half


Aaron Cruden will regain his place in the All Black’s starting line-up this weekend, taking over from Beauden Barrett at out half. Cruden has recovered from the pectoral muscle injury which kept him out of action for last week’s victory over Argentina, dropping Barrett back to the bench. The kiwis have been forced into two further changes in the pack, also due to injury. Steven Luatua comes in for the injured Liam Messam, while Jeremy Thrush comes into the second row to replace Sam Whitelock. 

Stephen Beale


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