mens
Gallagher-Prime Minister
Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has been handed a double injury boost ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Gallagher PREM basement clash against Harlequins, with news that international stars Tom Hooper and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso could feature in his side.
Wallaby back-rower Hooper appeared to have re-injured his shoulder in the defeat to Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, but scans ruled out any serious damage and a decision on his fitness will be made later in the week.
While speed king Feyi-Waboso needs to train with England today after missing the last two games against Toulouse in the Champions Cup and away to the Bears, after damaging his hamstring during their only win of the season against PREM Newcastle Red Bulls.
“Most of what we’ve seen is positive. The scan doesn’t really show a fracture in that scapula. Very little bruising, no swelling. I think our prognosis at this stage is that it’s more of a hard blow to that fracture site.”
“And it created pain and numbness and a lack of mobility, hopefully for a limited period, and now we can evaluate it on a day-to-day basis. But the only thing that really matters is that there were no catastrophic injuries.”
“We’ll monitor him day by day and see where he can go by the end of the week, but he could potentially be available for the weekend game,” Baxter said.
Baxter is crossing his fingers that Feyi-Waboso, one of seven players on international training camps this week, comes through unscathed and will be brought on against bottom-of-the-table Quins.
“Manny is progressing very well. I believe yesterday with England he ticked the boxes he needed to tick to allow him to train today; after this scan on Sunday, they saw he was progressing in the right direction.
“We hope to be able to liaise with England about his availability at the weekend,” added Baxter.
Meanwhile, Baxter said new Dallas McLeod will arrive in the country later this week and will be available for the next block of the PREM Rugby Cup, starting with Bath’s week-long visit on Saturday.
