Cannon cleared of serious injury

Cannon cleared of serious injury

April 08, 2007

REELING from its biggest Super 14 loss, Western Force received some much needed good news with veteran hooker Brendan Cannon cleared of a serious injury.

Australia stalwart Cannon was taken off on a stretcher and rushed to hospital, after a collapsed scrum 11 minutes from the end of Saturday night's 53-0 loss in Christchurch.

Cannon, who required surgery after a neck injury last season, rejoined his team mates today.

"It's all good news, he stayed in hospital overnight, but an MRI this morning showed no new injury and he was cleared of serious injuries," a Force spokesperson said.

"He's got a bit of numbness and a weakness in the left arm, but he's rejoined the group and he's in good spirits."

Cannon was expected to return to Perth early in the week to discuss with a specialist whether he needed further treatment.

He will miss next weekend's game against the Chiefs and his availability after that will depend on what the specialist says.

Force coach John Mitchell hoped his shell-shocked side had learnt from its heaviest defeat.

AAP

I am extremely relieved about the news.

As I looked out onto Jade Stadium at Brendan lying there unmoving for what seemed an eternity, you couldn't help fearing the worst.

I hope he makes a very speedy and full recovery from the injury.

Hey david, Just heard the end of the broadcast yesterday......sounded you you had a few problems......

I find it a little strange that whoever wrote this article threw in that last sentence. What does that have to do with Cannon's injury?

We did have a problem with one key lead for the equipment and the non instalation of special lines which we were promised would happen but didn't - its unfortunate but we were still able to broadcast the match.

90.5FM is breaking new ground by travelling to away matches. In 14 years in Super 14's no other station (from Australia, New Zealand or South Africa) has sent their own commentators to Jade stadium.

We've been able to learn a lot from Friday's match in the organisation with the clubs so hopefully that problem won't ever re-occur.

We're sorry if the technical fault spoiled it for anyone but sometimes you get a few teething problems.

not knocking David.....but I heard you say Scott Daruda helped....hope he did good

I think Scott was brilliant - he may help out again for the Chiefs game in Hamilton.

I know you weren't knocking Gerry, but I always like to give explanations when things don't go quite as planned.

David Smith scoop; Daruda not playing in Hamilton :D

:offtopic:

Neck injury may end career

By Courtney Walsh
April 09, 2007

THE career of Western Force hooker Brendan Cannon could be decided this week when he meets a Perth specialist after a sickening incident in a Super 14 match on Saturday.

Cannon, who overcame a career-threatening neck injury last year, spent Saturday night in a Christchurch hospital after hurting it again when a scrum collapsed 10 minutes from the end of Force's humiliating 53-0 loss to the Crusaders.

The Australia hooker lay prone on the turf for several minutes until he was stabilised by medical staff. Force centre Matt Giteau admitted fearing for his team-mate's future.

"Injuries like that are much, much bigger than the game," said Giteau. "It is just such an unfortunate thing that happened, but when it does happen it is scary."

While Cannon, 34, is still suffering from numbness in his left arm, Force officials were far more positive yesterday after an MRI revealed no new injury to his neck region.

"It is a huge positive, not just for the Force, but for Brendan and his family (that he is walking around today)," Giteau said.

But a Force spokesman said Cannon, who last week signed a one-year contract extension, would assess his future only after consulting the surgeon who performed last year's operation.

"He told me, 'Hold on, it's too soon to be acting like that'," the spokesman said.

The affable Cannon, who was the first player to sign with Force, suffered a severe compression of two vertebrae in an accident against the Highlanders last year, with bone chipping off and lodging in a nerve canal.

Even if the specialist has good news for Cannon, it is a cruel blow given his form had made him a leading contender for Australia's World Cup squad.

The scoop is he MAY not play in Hamilton - in which case he MAY help me - I'm sure he'd much prefer to be terrorising the Chiefs.