MacKay to go under the knife.

[Burgs]

Bugger, bugger, bugger

Force star to have groin surgery

c/o Fox Sports
August 08, 2006

INJURY-plagued Western Force five-eighth Lachlan Mackay will have surgery on his groin tomorrow but is hopeful of being back in time for the start of next year's Super 14.

Mackay saw doctors in Perth this afternoon and was set to undergo an operation on two chronic groin tears at Mount Hospital.

He was to also receive treatment for osteitis pubis – a common footballing injury caused by repetitive kicking, sprinting and changing direction.

Orthopaedic surgeon Peter Annear was to conduct the procedure, which involved cutting away at and lengthening Mackay's right and left adductor muscles and scraping away inflamed tissue from his pubic symphysis.

Mackay was expecting a long lay-off.

"It's pretty much a full-on operation, it's five months recovery for getting back," he told AAP today.

"Five months in terms of getting back to actually hopefully playing a game of football.

"It's laying pretty low for a few weeks and you can start jogging after six weeks and after that it's a long process to being able to play a game of football."

MacKay missed much of his debut season with Force with a knee injury and has sustained a litany of other ailments over the years.

The 23-year-old fly half said he was aiming to be back for the pre-Super 14 trial games in mid-January and barring any hiccups would definitely be available for round one.

AAP

[.X.]

heres hoping to a quick and speedy recovery

[JediKnight]

heres hoping to a quick and speedy recovery

I second that emotion.

In a vain attempt to get humour from a serious subject - can anyone guess the song title I immediately thought of when I read the headline?

[The EnForcer]

Oh come on Jedi.......all that money your parents spent on your education and that's the best you can come up with...Frank would be spinning in his grave.

[felixnelson]

i think he will be really important to our success next year so i hope he get backs too

[AndyS]

BIG opportunity for Hilgendorf in the APC, especially with them looking around for a back-up for Larkham

[Mambo No. 5]

So what actually is his position now? Even in the recent Gold game and against Tonga he was an Inside Centre. His first game against the Brumbies he was also at No 12. So what is his position? Is he competing with Daruda and Hilgy or against Stanners and Giteau?

[AndyS]

He's a 10, except that both our 12s for next year were unavailable.

[Mambo No. 5]

So where is he ranked as our 10? First, Second or Third?

[AndyS]

Probably first based on experience and specialisation. I'm not sure how much Hilgendorf has played at 10 other than this season, but I think he has spent most time at 15 and has played pretty much all over the back line. That said, Hilgendorf showed heaps in the S14 and I'm not sure that I wouldn't rate them about evens myself. If he can carry similar form into the APC, he may well get looked at for the EOYT.

[Mambo No. 5]

I think that Mackay's biggest weakness is is kicking. I also think that is Staniforths problems cracking into the wallabies squad at 12. However, with Gits coming into the team at 12, Mackay has all the kicking support he needs.. So I agree, I would place him as our no one 10.

[felixnelson]

He is our number one 10...then probably Hilgy, Daruda then Giteau

[brokendown gunfighter]

I second that emotion.

In a vain attempt to get humour from a serious subject - can anyone guess the song title I immediately thought of when I read the headline?

Mac the knife

[JediKnight]

Mac the knife

congratulations!!!

[JediKnight]

I think that Mackay's biggest weakness is is kicking.

If this is the case, then we should definitely have him at No 10 to avoid any risk of a repeat of Saturday's debacle!!!!