Blow gives Prior the self-belief to play on
He's one tough rooster
Nick Taylor The West Australian
October 1, 2014, 7:20 am
Scrum-half Ian Prior was quite happy to cop a whack across the nose in Perth Spirit's National Rugby Championship 63-21 win over Sydney Stars on Sunday.
Two months ago he was seriously injured in the Western Force's final Super Rugby game against the Brumbies.
He was left with four cheekbone fractures and a broken nose and risked a collapsed face after being kneed by Matt Toomua in a tackle just five minutes into the game. But he battled on courageously to finish the first half.
He had already broken his nose a week earlier against the Queensland Reds.
Prior, who came close to losing the sight in his right eye, has two face plates held in place by 10 screws.
He said Sunday's blow told him everything was fine and gave him plenty of confidence.
Prior scored 23 points from a try and six conversions.
"We took it cautiously coming back, but I copped a bit of a knock on my nose on Sunday which hurt but it's all good," Prior said.
"I was feeling pretty confident out there, getting confidence back in contact. If it wasn't for the NRC I'd be training so it's good to be able to test it."
Prior was unaware how serious the damage was until examined by the club doctor. When he blew his nose a pocket of air came up under his eye.
"I had a bit of a rough trot finishing the Super Rugby season but it's coming up all good," he said.
"I didn't know what had happened at the time.
"I knew something was wrong but not how bad it was.
"I wasn't disorientated but the doc said it was not safe. If I had copped another knock my face could have collapsed and I could have lost the sight in the eye."
Prior, who won a Super Rugby championship with the Reds in 2011 and played for the Brumbies in the 2013 grand final, is looking for another NRC win in Saturday's clash with Queensland Country at Rockingham Rugby Club.
A bonus-point win could keep the Sprit in finals contention.
"We are not looking that far ahead," he said.
"Hopefully the result will come but we have got quite a young group and we are working on consistency, game management and decision making."
