Wilson in frame as Reds assess injury damage for finals
Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan remain chances to face the Crusaders in the Queensland Reds' quarter-final in Christchurch.
But Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is all but certain to be ruled out of Friday's clash after a head knock suffered late in the side's big defeat of Fijian Drua added to the side's injury-riddled season.
Incumbent Wallabies captain Wilson failed to finish in Saturday's 52-7 win at Suncorp Stadium after suffering a knock to the same arm he fractured earlier this season.
Wilson had scans on Sunday but was spotted at Ballymore on Monday and is yet to be ruled out of Friday's sudden-death clash.
Winger Ryan (ankle) can also prove his fitness this week but the six-day turnaround will likely rule out back-up playmaker McLaughlin-Phillips.
In brighter news, enigmatic utility forward Seru Uru (knee) could return from injury for the clash.
The Reds, who ended a 25-year winning drought in Christchurch last season, will fly to New Zealand on Wednesday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Dead serious or dead rubber? Why one Super Rugby final could end up a training run
The Brumbies meet the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Canberra on Saturday night, and depending on the preceding 24 hours, it could prove to be one of two things. It could be one of the most crucial games in the club's recent history, or a mostly inconsequential dead rubber. The unusual scenario has arisen after Super Rugby Pacific opted to put the Brumbies-Hurricanes as last of three finals on the opening weekend of the playoffs, which has been cut back to six teams this year after opposition to the previous system of eight teams in a 12-team competition qualifying. With only three finals being played, the top-three ranked winning teams progress to the semi-finals, and so does the highest-ranked loser. With the Crusaders (2nd) hosting the Reds (5th) on Friday night, and the Chiefs (1st) and Blues (6th) playing on Saturday afternoon, the Brumbies (3rd) vs Canes (4th) at 7.30pm on Saturday will have no knockout component if the Crusaders and Chiefs both win. Both the Brumbies and the Canes would still progress to the semi-finals. If either the top two-ranked sides get beaten before the Brumbies-Canes clash, however, the final will have huge ramifications. The winner would earn a home semi-final the following week, and a door would remain open to even hosting the final a week later. No Australian side has ever won Super Rugby without hosting the final. The loser would be knocked out.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Dead serious or dead rubber? Why one Super Rugby final could end up a training run
The Brumbies meet the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final in Canberra on Saturday night, and depending on the preceding 24 hours, it could prove to be one of two things. It could be one of the most crucial games in the club's recent history, or a mostly inconsequential dead rubber. The unusual scenario has arisen after Super Rugby Pacific opted to put the Brumbies-Hurricanes as last of three finals on the opening weekend of the playoffs, which has been cut back to six teams this year after opposition to the previous system of eight teams in a 12-team competition qualifying. With only three finals being played, the top-three ranked winning teams progress to the semi-finals, and so does the highest-ranked loser. With the Crusaders (2nd) hosting the Reds (5th) on Friday night, and the Chiefs (1st) and Blues (6th) playing on Saturday afternoon, the Brumbies (3rd) vs Canes (4th) at 7.30pm on Saturday will have no knockout component if the Crusaders and Chiefs both win. Both the Brumbies and the Canes would still progress to the semi-finals. If either the top two-ranked sides get beaten before the Brumbies-Canes clash, however, the final will have huge ramifications. The winner would earn a home semi-final the following week, and a door would remain open to even hosting the final a week later. No Australian side has ever won Super Rugby without hosting the final. The loser would be knocked out.
The Age
10 hours ago
- The Age
Wallabies captaincy frontrunner revealed, as great's son makes his case
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has identified Harry Wilson as a frontrunner for the nation's captaincy against the British and Irish Lions, as the star No.8 establishes his legacy in the gold jumper. Despite only returning from a fractured arm two weeks ago, the Queensland Red's influence is not lost on Schmidt, who in 2024 made him Australia's most consistent skipper of the past two years. Before his comeback, Wilson told this masthead he hadn't spoken with Schmidt, but the latter confirmed in Brisbane that the 25-year-old loomed as the top candidate to lead from the front. That is, if he can recover from a wrist injury that has left him in doubt for the Reds' qualifying final against the Crusaders on Friday. 'You know what you're going to get with Harry, he's so wholehearted, and he's so proud to put that jersey on,' Schmidt said. Loading 'I think other players appreciate that. It's a little bit contagious in the environment, so Harry is part of our leadership team, and whoever leads the team on any given Saturday is usually someone who comes out of that four or five man leadership team. 'Harry would be one of the four runners for that position, but we'll see how he comes back and how a few other guys who are playing well get through that play-off period.' Wilson's injury concerns, and the continued absence of flanker Liam Wright (shoulder), makes for a daunting build-up to Queensland's battle in Christchurch.
