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Wayne Smith | June 12, 2009
Article from: The Australian
ROCKY Elsom might not play for the Wallabies until halfway through the Tri-Nations series because of complications with what at first seemed an innocuous knee injury.
Informed sources have told The Australian the swelling on Elsom's knee, the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Barbarians side that played the Wallabies last Saturday, is more serious than first thought.
An initial scan taken in Dublin after his man-of-the-match performance for Leinster in its Heineken Cup final victory over Leicester on May 23 did not detect any major damage, prompting Elsom to ignore the deep-seated pain to play for the Barbarians in their stunning victory over England at Twickenham a week later.
With the benefit of hindsight, it seems that playing in that match may have compounded the problem and significantly extended Elsom's stint on the sideline.
Indications are it will be four to eight weeks before the dynamic 26-year-old blindside flanker will be able to resume running. A worst-case scenario would make it unlikely he would be considered for selection before the Wallabies' third match of the series, against the All Blacks in Sydney on August 22.
Even a best-case scenario would see him missing not just tomorrow's opening Test of the Wallabies' 2009 campaign, against Italy in Canberra but also the second Test against the Azzurri in Melbourne on June 20, the Test against France in Sydney on June 27 and, most likely, the first Tri-Nations fixture, against the All Blacks in Auckland on July 18.
Ironically, Elsom was in Melbourne yesterday as a guest of the Victorian government to help promote next week's Test against Italy, a match the Wallabies initially were hoping he would figure in quite prominently.
From having an embarrassment of riches at blindside flanker little over a month ago, the Wallabies now find themselves stretched thin, having lost Hugh McMeniman, Matt Hodgson and now Elsom to injury.
Dean Mumm will cover the position tomorrow against the Italians, with specialist lock Peter Kimlin providing back-up, but any further casualties and the Australian selectors might need to bring in Brumbies number six Mitchell Chapman or rising NSW backrower Ben Mowen.
While Elsom declined to comment on a timeframe for his return, he did reveal what Melburnians had been hoping to hear, that his contract with the Brumbies is for one year, with a further one-year option.
That means he has built in an escape hatch from Canberra should he want to return to Melbourne - which he left when he was 10 - in the event of the city being awarded the Super 15 expansion team.
Elsom already is being touted as a possible foundation captain of the new team, but the man himself isn't making any
promises.
"I think I've got to think of the Brumbies at the very least as least a two-year option - that's the way I see it at the moment, at least," Elsom said yesterday after appearing in a Test promotion with one of the strongest advocates of the Melbourne bid, Victorian Sports Minister James Merlino.
Elsom watched last Saturday's match at the Sydney Football Stadium through Barbarian eyes from the sideline and couldn't help but be impressed by the way his teammates were run ragged by the Wallabies and relentlessly pressured into mistakes.
"It's hard for me to say exactly how the Wallabies have come on since last year, but looking at the game, the difference between the Barbarians side that played Australia and the one that played England a week earlier is that the team last Saturday was put under constant pressure by the Wallabies," Elsom said.
"They couldn't put a ball into touch, they couldn't rest for a minute at any stage and they were forced to run all over the pitch."
There were some defensive lapses from the Barbarians, Elsom admitted, but most of them were caused by mismatches, with tight forwards being called on to defend against Australia's electrifying backs. "The fact they were defending against backs was because they had been run around so much and didn't have time to regroup.
"I don't think there is anything different about the Wallabies' philosophy or team pattern but what did stand out to me was the speed with which they played," Elsom said.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
Just how pissed will Melbourne be if they miss out a second time
They no doubt won't but I will sleep well tonight contemplating that as an outcome...
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Wonder if the Brumbies are getting nervous about the long-term fitness of Rocky......
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Wonder if the ARU are pissed at having to pay for his rehab!
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Rocky is worth it... He has played 18 months of rugby in 3 of the hardest tournements in the world, he likely needs a break... The other boys will get a run which is also a good thing... Hodgson may even get back in time to get his first Wallabies cap...
FFS. I agree with Mud.
Elsom should be back for a good part of the important matches. Let's hope Hodgo forces him to fight his way back (or not) from the bench.
I hope Melbourne do get the nod. I'd prefer an InnForcers tour watching the boys stick it to the Vics to a weekend in Boganville or Gosford even Canberra is preferable to those two. What price Link as inaugural coach?
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
Are you referring to the Gold Coast as Boganville?
West Sydney - Gold Coast would be the retirement village![]()
What Beige said. Although some (not so coastal) parts of the Gold Coast qualify.Originally Posted by tic
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
That's actually not accurate any more (it probably was for the 1970's and some of the 1980's). The vast majority of interstate migrants into South East Qld for the last 20 years have been young families.
Anyway, I'm not sure there are too many Bogan areas on the Gold Coast - Nerang probably is, and some isolated pockets elsewhere.
Great news for Hodgson ----------------------------------------------
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
He shouldn't get a walk up start just because he's Rocky Elsom & he has a good history. Hodgo worked his butt off IN AUSTRALIA with the hope of playing for the Wallabies, he didn't walk out on his country to earn some extra NH money and then casually stroll back in. Same deal with Mumm, they could have quite easily gone North if they wanted to bu they stayed loyal to their country.
I'm all for having the fittest and strongest Wallabies team but by okaying Rocky to just stroll back into his test spot, thats like okaying any player to go play a season up North, not play in the Super 14 and then just come back when they feel like & displace players who have played for their country. I know I have no say over what happens but I don't like it. Its not really a fair way to reward players who do stay and play for their State/Province/Country.