Benn Robinson ruled out for the rest of the year

[S120]

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Media Release:

Qantas Wallabies prop Benn Robinson has been ruled out of rugby for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old, who celebrates his 27th birthday next Tuesday, underwent an arthroscopy in Sydney this morning after stumbling at training yesterday and feeling a “click” in his knee.

While the injury at first didn’t appear serious, further examination today has shown that he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee, while also damaging a meniscus in the joint.

An operation in the coming days will be required to repair the damage, with the timeline required for recovery curtailing the rest of his season.

“It’s disappointing news for Benn, disappointing news for the rest of the squad and for Australian Rugby as a whole,” Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says.

“No one likes to see injuries like this. The seemingly innocuous circumstances in which it occurred only adds to the frustration, but injuries have always been a part of the game. When the door closes for one player, it opens for another and I’m sure the other front rowers we have will step up to fill the void Benn leaves.

“As far as Benn goes, we wish him all the best for his recovery and will be providing him with any assistance he needs.”

Robinson had been scheduled to feature in his 43rd Test during Sunday’s Castrol Edge Rugby Test against Samoa at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

Western Force prop Pekahou Cowan and NSW Waratahs prop Al Baxter have both joined the Qantas Wallabies in training today, with Baxter featuring in both of the day’s sessions while Cowan arrived in from Perth in time to join the afternoon session.

Both players were involved in the recent national scrum camps that were held by the Australian Rugby Union.

A decision on which of those players replaces Robinson in the Qantas Wallabies squad, and in Sunday’s match day playing roster, will be made prior to the weekend.

As well as covering for Robinson, the pair’s presence will also assist in team preparations while fellow props Ben Daley (shoulder), James Slipper (ankle) and Salesi Ma’afu (rehabilitating after an arm fracture) are unavailable for selection.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Just wonder whether they would consider LARS?

 

[S120]

I think they're doing the traditional surgery.

This is pure speculation on my part and I have no idea of whether it's right or not, but might the LARS surgery not be a good idea for a front rower who will have so much weight impacted upon him when he engages in the scrum?

 

[Lions1024]

I don't think that LARS is a viable option for some ACL tears.

Losing Robinson is huge. Our WC chances have taken a HUGE hit. I'd personally like to see Kepu revert back to LHP and play Slipper at THP. I'd rather not have Alexander or Daley in the team (2 very average scrummaging props). On another note,Pek Cowan? Really? Huge error by Deans imo. Longbottom, Holmes, Palmer and, dare I say, Dunning are all better alternatives.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah I assumed they would go traditional, just saying surely they would exercise every option available including LARS. Last year I would have said this is a massive blow but Kepu, Slipper, etc are in good form.

 

[S120]

I'm happy for Alexander to play off the bench. Can do both sides and has shown in the past he can scrummage well at world class level (although he has more often than not had Fat Cat on the other side of the scrum to help him).

Slipper and Kepu should be the first choice props now at TH and LH respectively. We have a bit more depth than we used to so it doesn't hurt as much as it once would have, but it's still a big hit to our hopes of winning it all.

 

[Tassie19Cairns20]

See, and this is before the Samoa match or the Tri-Nations. As I've said before many times, playing this many matches before the World Cup, especially with the extended Super Rugby Season, is a disaster and can only harm a team's World Cup chances.

There WILL be more injuries after the conclusion of these 5 pre-World Cup matches.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

So you would prefer to go in underdone? This happened at training, but jeez it happens, it is sport. I would rather we be match hardened going into the World Cup...rather than playing spuds like Namibia to get match fitness! Not to mention half our side is undecided!

1. Who takes Mitchell's position as the no 1 winger?
2. Who is the no8?
3. Centres
4. Backup fly half
5. Starting locks

These all tell me we need test matches to find out, not players sitting on their rear end!

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Davies replaces Mitchell on the wing if not fit and play JOC at 12.

 

[Tassie19Cairns20]

So you would prefer to go in underdone? This happened at training, but jeez it happens, it is sport. I would rather we be match hardened going into the World Cup...rather than playing spuds like Namibia to get match fitness! Not to mention half our side is undecided!

1. Who takes Mitchell's position as the no 1 winger?
2. Who is the no8?
3. Centres
4. Backup fly half
5. Starting locks

These all tell me we need test matches to find out, not players sitting on their rear end!

Mate that's what our Pool matches are for. Playing duds like the US and Russia will get us ready to play in the knockout stages. Sure Italy and Ireland are Six Nations sides, but they are no match for us. I just think too much Rugby right before the World Cup will lead to tired and beat up players by the time the semi-finals and final roll around.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

No it is not, you need to have tough matches going into a world cup. Look at the last FOUR Cup champions and there is 1 similarity- they all come off hard lead in games, especially England in 03, and SA in 07. You need matches. Australia and Robbie Deans knows what he is doing.

We are 3 months off our peak- we need the matches, especially when Elsom, etc haven't played much this year.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Davies replaces Mitchell on the wing if not fit and play JOC at 12.

It will be Iaone on the wing for Drew, but the point stands we need some backups, whether that be Turner, Davies, etc.

 

[Tassie19Cairns20]

No it is not, you need to have tough matches going into a world cup. Look at the last FOUR Cup champions and there is 1 similarity- they all come off hard lead in games, especially England in 03, and SA in 07. You need matches. Australia and Robbie Deans knows what he is doing.

We are 3 months off our peak- we need the matches, especially when Elsom, etc haven't played much this year.

The 2007 Springboks basically took the Tri-Nations off, and then went on to win the World Cup. Their successful 2007 strategy created a fresh and energized side by the time the Cup started. I wish the Wallabies would emulate them.

 

[S120]

You can twist it anyway you want. England toured NZ and Aus (and maybe SA as well, I can't remember) in the lead up to the '03 WC and it did them no harm. They came down here, beat the Wallabies and AB's and were back in a few months to win the whole thing.

The Boks rested and they won the '07 WC. There's no rule to this kind of thing and I don't think either strategy would win out over the other given many, many samples.

Our squad isn't old enough that they'd need to be rested like the '07 Boks did (or at least that is the reason they used). Getting to play the Boks and AB's consistently every year is one of the biggest advantages we get relative to the rest of the world.

 

[S120]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...-running-for-cup/story-e6frg7o6-1226097133306

Surgery might be delayed and apparently his knee is "freakishly stable". Perhaps there is hope for Fat Cat yet.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Thank god, I would take a 60% fit Robinson IMO