Larkham in doubt for rest of Cup

[blueandblack]

Larkham in doubt for rest of Cup

Australia fly half Stephen Larkham is in doubt for the rest of the World Cup after undergoing a second knee operation.

Larkham was hoping to play against Canada this weekend after making a swift recovery from surgery last week but suffered a setback at training on Monday.

Australia coach John Connolly said Larkham was taken to a Montpellier hospital for arthoscopic surgery after his right knee became infected.

"Stephen Larkham spent the night in hospital. His knee's flared up and he's got a small infection," Connolly told reporters on Tuesday.

"We hope to get him out (of the hospital) tomorrow. He definitely won't be considered for this weekend or the weekend after."

Larkham's latest setback means he will miss Australia's last Pool B match against Canada in Bordeaux on Saturday and the quarter-final against England or Tonga in Marseille a week later.

The earliest he might resume playing is in the semi-finals in Paris in mid-October, if Australia get that far and the injury heals.

"I've spoken to the medical staff and they really can't say when he'll be fit to play," Connolly said.

"We know we won't have him for the quarter-final but if all goes well he may be available the following week.

"He's very disappointed, obviously, because he was coming along quite well. He's one of our most experienced players and very much in our plans."

Larkham, 33, has been plagued by knee injuries in recent seasons and plans to retire from international rugby after the World Cup.

He played in Australia's opening game against Japan but injured his knee at training on the eve of their second match against Wales and was replaced by Berrick Barnes, who was uncapped before the World Cup.

"You would have to say Berrick would be favourite to start at this stage, but we do have a couple of options so we'll sit down and discuss that after the game on Saturday," Connolly said.

"It's a big ask for a 21-year-old but Berrick did an outstanding job against Wales in a pressure situation a fortnight ago."

copy/pasted in full from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...26/2043375.htm

[JediKnight]

This won't be doing his post-RWC commercialisation any good.

[Jehna]

I'm beginning to think the French did this on purpose..
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No quarter for Larkham
From Jim Morton in Montpellier
September 26, 2007

STEPHEN Larkham's Rugby World Cup campaign is in turmoil again after suffering a "freak" infection following knee surgery.

Larkham, 33, has undergone another arthroscopy and has been ruled out of the Wallabies' next two matches, delivering another blow to Australia's title hopes.

The 102-Test veteran, currently on a drip, will remain in hospital for another day or two after having surgery last night.

The symptoms of the infection flared yesterday, when he was due to resume running in a bid to return off the bench against Canada this weekend.

"We hope he will be out (of hospital) tomorrow but he definitely won't be considered for this weekend or the following weekend," Wallabies coach John Connolly said.

"He got up yesterday morning to start running. It was sore and it was just the start of an infection, and he spent the night in there getting treated.
"He's very disappointed, obviously. He was coming along quite well. "It was one of those freak accidents."

Wallabies medical officer Dr Martin Raftery said the infection was a result of Larkham's arthroscopy in Montpellier on September 16 to remove a floating bone fragment.

While the infection was external, between the skin and the knee capsule, fluid had to be flushed through the knee to ensure the infection hadn't penetrated the joint's casing, he said.

"It's a recognised complication of surgery and whenever you do any surgery one of the risks is infection," Dr Raftery said. "You have bugs on your skin and when you insert a foreign instrument into your body you can take those bugs through to your knee joint - and that's what's happened. "It's just unlucky."

Dr Raftery confirmed that the semi-final, most likely against New Zealand, was the best-case scenario for Larkham. Larkham has not trained since September 14 and probably won't resume running for more than a week.
Connolly had planned to play Larkham off the bench against Canada, with the view to starting him in the October 6 quarter-final in Marseille.

Now he must rely upon rookie Berrick Barnes to carry a huge load through to the semi-finals. Barnes has already responded brilliantly to one pressure-filled assignment, when he stepped in at five-eighth against Wales with only half a day's notice.

"It's a big challenge," Connolly said of Barnes. "He's still learning the position but mentally he handles things very well and he's got the all-round game to be a good Test player. "The opportunity came for Berrick and he stepped up to the mark and played very well and we hope he keeps improving. That's the way you have to approach it."

Barnes, who is carrying a corked thigh, trained today.

Connolly admitted he could rest Barnse, 21, from the match against Canada in Bordeaux, as a safeguard. Versatile backs Julian Huxley and Matt Giteau could fill the role.

AAP

[JediKnight]

Did Barnes visit Larkham in hospital? Where's that CCTV footage?!

[Jehna]

Poor Bernie I miss when he wasn't injured...oh no wait...i don't think that's ever been the case...
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Larkham eyes semi-final return
By Wayne Smith
September 27, 2007

EVER the optimist, Steve Larkham has not abandoned hope of playing in the World Cup quarter-final. However long it takes him to work his way back, he has full faith in Berrick Barnes to steer the Wallabies through the knock-out rounds.

Still in a Montpellier hospital yesterday, after undergoing a second arthroscopy to flush out an infection that took hold in his right knee as a result of the first operation 11 days ago, Larkham was adamant that there was no way his Test career was over.

Not only was he convinced he will recover in time to play a key role in the long hoped-for semi-final against the All Blacks but he has not a doubt the Wallabies will still be alive and kicking by the time he is fit to pull on a boot. "The best-case scenario is the quarter-final, but realistically I'm definitely looking at the semi-final," Larkham said.

"I think it really depends on how quickly I get rid of the swelling. We're hoping to get the leg back to normal at the start of next week.

"In which case I'd be in a similar position to the one I was in earlier this week before the infection set in, hoping to play in the Canada game."

Larkham has made no secret of his desperate desire to have one last shot at England in the quarter-finals before he retires but at this point it would seem the chances of the reigning world champion keeping that appointment are far better than those of the 33-year-old Australian five-eighth.

England "only" has to overcome Tonga. Larkham has to flog a body that, were it not for the magic of elasticised tape, might very well fall apart right before our eyes, bit by bit.

Even if Larkham beats the odds and the Wallabies beat the old enemy, there still remains the question of whether coach John Connolly is prepared to start a semi-final with a player who, by that stage, will have seen only an hour of rugby action in 12 weeks -- and that against an over-matched Japan.

"There would be concerns," Larkham conceded. "We'd all have to sit down and discuss it. But I will be working very hard over the next two weeks with (physical performance manager) Jason Weber to make sure there is not a problem with my fitness."

For the moment, however, Larkham's fate is not in his hands. If 21-year-old Barnes chokes in Marseille under the pressure of confronting England and his boyhood hero, Jonny Wilkinson, then the most decorated five-eighth in the history of the game will be forced to depart the international scene with a whimper, not even having the chance for one farewell wave to the crowd.

"I'll certainly be a very interested spectator in Marseille," Larkham said. "I definitely don't want my Test career to end with me not on the field. This is a bit of a setback but it's looking good for me to get back in time to help out.

"I think Berrick has been doing a tremendous job. Against Fiji he stepped up and really took over the calling, which is what he needs to do."

Still, it is a huge load for a three-time capped 21-year-old to carry and, worryingly, no side has won the World Cup with an inexperienced youngster at five-eighth.

The Australian

[Jehna]

Life goes on without Bernie
By Peter Jenkins
September 27, 2007

AUSTRALIA is still a World Cup contender, even without Stephen Larkham. Utter those words two weeks ago and the white coats would have been on the scene with the latest in close-fitting straitjackets.

But that was before Berrick Barnes - the country music fan who sings along to John Williamson - brought wide-eyed youth, effervescence and a well-controlled armoury of basic skills to a Larkham-less Australian backline.

The starting debut by Barnes against Wales in Cardiff on September 15 suggested an heir had finally emerged. While Larkham was previously considered irreplaceable, the most priceless asset in the side, there was suddenly reason to believe if he was put out of action the Wallabies would not go into on-field cardiac arrest.

The Barnes shimmy to set up a try for Matt Giteau at Millennium Stadium and the coolly taken drop goal - both inside the first 20 minutes - were impressive. But they represent only part of what he can offer the Wallabies as they approach a likely quarter-final blockbuster with England.

Coach John Connolly made reference to it yesterday.

Barnes, he said, has "the all-round game that suits Test footy". Significantly, he has a lethal, well-trained boot.

The 21-year-old already has a superior kicking game to Larkham, whose ongoing knee problems have hindered him in that regard.

In the win over Fiji, Barnes unfurled a pin-point touch-finder off the outside of his foot while facing the opposite sideline. He placed a well-weighted cross-field kick that could have led to a try. They were the subtleties to go with the raking punts.

Where Larkham remains untouched is in the experience gained from 102 Tests and his unique X-factor qualities in attack.

The ghosting runs that continue to befuddle defences and the vision attached to a long-passing game are the core reasons for his longevity in the highest-pressure decision-making position on the park.

Barnes cannot replicate those assets exclusive to the long-serving match-winner.

But nor does he need to as the Wallabies gear up for the business end of the tournament.

While Larkham tends to drift across field looking for ways through an opposition, the tactic can have the effect of shutting down space for Matt Giteau at inside centre.

There were several Tests this season when Giteau's impact was limited.

But the straighter lines Barnes employs has the potential to bring the quick-stepping midfield player more into the game. Against Wales, Giteau scored one try. He collected two more against Fiji.

When Larkham is in the side, he is the axis on which the Wallabies spin.

When Barnes is there, the responsibility to make things happen is more evenly shared throughout the backline - and that's where the Wallabies are fortunate.

If they had draught horses in the midfield, on the wings and at full back, they might be dead in the water without Larkham.

But Giteau, Mortlock, Tuqiri (f*ck off...), Latham and Ashley-Cooper can take high-profile roles providing Barnes delivers on the basic skills he already appears to have well covered.

Larkham's loss is enormous. But it should not be a team killer.

The Daily Telegraph

[RuckNMaul]

mabey they used al baxters clippers to prep shave before the 1st surgery