All Blacks scrumhalf on course for remarkable return after serious injury

NEWS: All Blacks scrumhalf Folau Fakatava is set to return to the rugby field ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Highlanders star injured his right knee, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), prior to the All Blacks' departure for their end-of-year tour last year.

He suffered a similar injury during the 2021 Super Rugby season and returned in 2022 for the Highlanders, earning selection and his first test cap for the All Blacks against the Irish during the July Test match series in 2022

After suffering his latest injury, the 23-year-old elected a non-operative approach and now he is on course to be ready for the Highlanders' Super Rugby opener on February 25.

“Folau is on track to play our second game of the pre-season, against Moana Pasifika in Queenstown in a couple of weeks,” Highlanders head coach Clarke Dermody told the New Zealand Herald.

"He’ll return to play there, then be available for selection if he can tick off what he needs to in that game.

"He’s been working really hard and diligently with our medical team, the All Blacks medical staff as well.

"He’s giving himself every opportunity to try and make that World Cup, so we’re looking forward to seeing him back out there, and hopefully he can get through the full season."

Stand-down periods

The one boost the Highlanders will have is knowing that Fakatava will not be subject to the All Blacks’ mandatory rest periods ahead of this year's World Cup. This is because he missed the November tour.

However, Dermody confirmed that Aaron Smith, loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and loose forward Shannon Frizell will be included in those regulations.

"We’ve just got to be a bit tactical around when those guys get their rest and in making sure they get a good break so they’re not getting overloaded with the mental and physical areas of footy.

"It’s pretty straightforward for us because we’ve only got a few to deal with; I imagine it’s a bit of a challenge for some of the other teams - when you’ve got 12-15 All Blacks to try and balance around would be tricky. But I’m sure it’s a good challenge to have when you come to play-offs time having all those guys available.

"So, I guess it’s a double-edged sword."

Source: New Zealand Herald