Rugby: Shield team all but free of injuries

Keith Cameron
Keith Cameron
Otago has virtually an injury-free squad going into Friday night's Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Only prop Keith Cameron, who damaged a ligament in his thumb nearly a month ago, is unavailable from the squad to play Wellington in the capital on Friday night.

Otago coach Steve Martin said yesterday the squad had reported no injuries from the match against Southland last Friday night, and was looking forward to a week of training.

Otago drafted in prop Kees Meeuws to replace Cameron, bringing some experience into the side.

Martin said the availability of everyone in the squad created selection headaches but they were good ones to have.

The side would have a normal training week before flying out to Wellington on Thursday.

All Black flanker Adam Thomson got through a club game for Kaikorai against Taieri on Saturday and is expected to be available for selection for Friday's game.

He broke a bone in his right hand playing against the French on June 13.

Otago has had four pre-season games, with three wins and a loss.

It defeated North Otago, Mid Canterbury and Tasman before losing 19-4 to Southland in Invercargill on Friday night.

Wellington had its final hit-out for the season against Canterbury last Friday, and won a tight encounter 31-24.

It had earlier beaten Wairarapa-Bush and Wanganui in shield challenges.

Although Wellington has seven players in the All Black touring squad it still has plenty of talent to call on, with the likes of loose forward Victor Vito, lock Jeremy Thrush and wing Hosea Gear sure to line up on Friday night.

It may miss the steadying influence of midfield back Tamati Ellison, who is in South Africa with the All Blacks.

His younger brother Jacob, a prop, captained the Wellington side in its win over Canterbury.

Wellington won the Shield from Auckland last season for the first time in 26 years, but that wait endured by Wellington is nothing compared to the 52-year drought Otago has experienced.

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