Injury puts Horstmann on the Sixways sidelines (From Worcester News)

Injury puts Horstmann on the Sixways sidelines

7:30am Thursday 24th September 2009

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BACK row talisman Kai Horstmann will miss the Guinness Premiership visit of Sale Sharks on Saturday after suffering a rib injury against Wasps.

The England Saxons number eight, who has been a key figure for the Warriors this season, was withdrawn after just 55 minutes of the Adams Park clash and replaced by Netani Talei.

However, Sixways director of rugby Mike Ruddock has revealed the injury is not a repeat of the rib problem Horstmann was struggling with at the end of last season and only expects him to miss two weeks.

The Worcester boss said: “Kai is going to struggle to be fit this weekend. Thankfully, though, it is not a recurrence of the problem he had towards the end of last season.

“It is in the same sort of area, but it is a cartilage problem rather than something with the rib itself, so hopefully he won’t be out for too long.

“Netani will come in for Kai, but unfortunately James Collins has come down with a type of flu bug and didn’t train on Monday or Tuesday so it is unlikely he’ll make the squad. Matt Cox will probably come in on the bench.”

The Welshman added: “The back row have played well so far this season, but Netani is a quality athlete and an international rugby player.

“He is itching to get on the field and he showed up well when he came on against Wasps, carrying really strongly. He is an exceptional ball-carrier with the ability to break the line.

“He is a different type of player to Kai, who is a real general for us and a great ‘old head’ without actually being that old.

“Netani offers us something completely different in that he is not as much of a leader but is an exceptional ball-carrier.

“What we want to do is to get him making in-roads and running at opposition backs rather than just around the fringes at forwards.”

Ruddock has had no other fresh injury setbacks and is hopeful of having a strong squad to chose from for Saturday’s visit of Sale.

He said: “Joey Carlisle could be back in contention and make the bench, while props Shaun Ruwers and Callum Black are also in contention.

“Centre Dale Rasmussen had a bit of a setback with his knee last week, but is back on track now. He could return to training next week.”

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