Heartbreak for Brendon as x ray reveals fracture

Cruel timing
By Duncan Wood
January 14 2003

Brendon Daniel has suffered a cruel blow as x rays reveal that he has fractured his thumb and will be out for 4 - 6 weeks. The Shoguns' top try scorer will be sorely missed with Phil Christophers still not certain for Sunday.

Brendon returned from the win at Montferrand hoping that he had merely discolated the thumb which was injured in a collision with Aurelien Rougerie and Andrew Higgins.

However, he has now had the hand x rayed and he looks set to be sidelined for betwen 4 and 6 weeks.

"Brendon has got a cracked thumb and they will put it in plaster, so he will probably be out for four to six weeks" said head coach Peter Thorburn.

This will come as a severe blow for the winger who has established himself in the first XV this season and is the current top try scorer with 9.

Phil Christophers is still not certain to recover from the rib injury which has kept him out of the team for the last 2 weekends so Peter Thorburn will have to wrap David Rees in cotton wool this week!

Other options would be to play Jamie Williams or Matt Carrington on the wing. There is also the option of moving Lee Best from fullback to wing with Williams, Carrington or Shane Drahm playing at 15.

Perhaps the worst aspect of the injury however could be the impact on Brendon's guitar playing!