Elsom compounds Brumbies' woes

[mudskipper]

Updated February 12, 2010 15:15:00


Brumbies flanker Rocky Elsom will join Matt Giteau on the sidelines after being ruled out of tonight's opening Super 14 clash against the Western Force.

Elsom, who missed both preseason matches, pulled up sore with a hamstring injury at yesterday's captain's run and failed a fitness test in Perth this morning.

Mitchell Chapman comes into the side as Elsom's replacement at blindside flanker.

Giteau was ruled out of the Brumbies side yesterday after failing to recover from a quadriceps injury.

Henry Vanderglas has flown to Perth to come off the bench.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend says it is disappointing to lose Elsom.

"He tried to run on Wednesday with it and then yesterday at the captain's run," he said. "He came to me and said it's just too tight."

"The physio has been working on it all day and all last night and he just can't get beyond 80 per cent."

Giteau injured his quad during preseason training and will be replaced by Matt Toomua at fly half.

Friend says the team can handle the loss of the Wallabies pair.

"You'd like to have all of your players on the football field," he said.

"The team will handle it, we've got Mitch Chapman who's a tremendous footballer".

"It's also a massive opportunity for Matt (Toomua), he's ready he's been training all week, we saw him have 80 minutes against the Waratahs last week so he's got a great combination with Josh Valentine and Christian Lealiifano and he's looking forward to it."

Friend says the player's injuries were aggravated by the flight to Perth and he hopes they will settle down by next week's clash with the Bulls.

"Given it was the flight that stirred it up I'd be a lot more confident that Matt will be right," he said.

"Rocky we'll just wait and see now how we treat that before we fly to South Africa and then obviously post the flight we'll see how he goes."


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...12/2818083.htm

[brokendown gunfighter]

so,what DID happen on that flight?

[slomo]

after a bit of turbulence, six of the brumbies players attempted to go to the toilet at the same time, even although the seat belt sign was still on...... That's the official line...
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[Sheikh]

If they're sh*tting themselves after some turbulence, wait 'til they see the look on Brownie's face once he's heard that he won't have the chance to meet Giteau on the field.

[AndyS]

"Friend says the player's injuries were aggravated by the flight to Perth and he hopes they will settle down by next week's clash with the Bulls"

Yeah, no worries, the hop over to Perth buggered it but it'll be fine after flying all the way to Pretoria....

[shasta]

Yeah, no worries, the hop over to Perth buggered it but it'll be fine after flying all the way to Pretoria....

You could be excused for thinking that line was from Eddy Everywhere making excuses for Collingwood.

[GIGS20]

That just tipped the scales a long way to the Force, Our backrow is now better in every matchup (albeit close with Bam and George)

Toomua won't be so much of a worry tonight, he won't see enough of the footy.

Force by 14

*GIGS20 glances at his watch

[blueandblack]

That just tipped the scales a long way to the Force, Our backrow is now better in every matchup (albeit close with Bam and George)

Toomua won't be so much of a worry tonight, he won't see enough of the footy.

Force by 14

*GIGS20 glances at his watch

Bart is out apparently

[GIGS20]

Crap!

GIGS20 glances at his watch

[Happy]

fuck if you want it that bad muddy I'll buy it for you!!