ULSTER WILL HAVE to go without wing Robert Baloucoune for a large part of the forthcoming extended season after the Enniskillen man tore his hamstring off the bone in training.
Baloucoune will turn 23 tomorrow, but celebrations will be muted as he requires surgery on the issue. Head coach Dan McFarland today revealed that the injury occurred in a ruck, when players attempting a poach so often have to leave themselves prone.
“Robert’s (injury) is really upsetting,” McFarland said in a video conference call today.
“It’s a hamstring avulsion that occurred in a jackal position. It’s one of those injuries in a mechanism that you can’t do anything about.
“Caught in that position, that ends up happening, for him that’s really upsetting and for us because he’s been really good in pre-season.
“He’s got something special that a lot people would love to have and that’s his speed. But as a player, he’s a really good learner. Defensively he’s excellent and he’s a smart defender.
“He can be very physical and he was progressing well. But these things happen, he’s a mentally tough guy and he’ll work through that.”
While ‘months’ was the only timeline placed on Baloucoune’s return, the other man on Ulster’s injury update has a more straightforward rehab ahead. Sean Reidy will likely miss the Pro14 matches ahead, but the northern province’s medical team hope he will be back in four weeks to compete for a place in the Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse.
Baloucoune for me is one of the most underrated young talents in the country, if he played for Leinster there’d probably be a lot more hype about him but every time I’ve watched him he’s been exceptional ( apart from when he should have been red carded v munster). He’s physically very well able and has decent speed but probably the most impressive thing about him is his ability to do the little things right all of the time. You rarely see him make mistakes. Sorry to see him injured, it could have been a good 12 months for him with Ireland but he’ll be back, I’ve no doubt about that. Hope he mends quickly.
@Jim Demps: right, now that Jim has his jab at Leinster out of the way, why don’t we all just not respond to him lest ANOTHER 42 thread becomes a mudsling-fest (the very kind Jim SWEARS he hates)?
@omgraham: agreed, 3 articles, none about Leinster, Jim fits in a dig about Leinster on each, on form today! … Baloucoune was called into the 6 nations squad , Is that enough recognition for you Jim?
@Dennis Reynolds: it’s his own Dennis system:
D: Demonstrate value with knowledge of the game
E: Engage with every article written about rugby
N: Nurture the idea that he is unbiased by sometimes complimenting Leinster players (I have witnessed this phenomenon)
N: Neglect reasoning to take a pop at Leinster at every given opportunity, thus bringing out the worst of the 42
I: Inspire hope by announcing you’re leaving the hell hole you’ve created to discuss rugby like an adult in a WhatsApp group
S: Seperate from said group to make a dramatic comeback, as sour and transparent as ever
@Dennis Reynolds: A bit like the Leinster fans who continuously cut Munster on the Munster articles and mention how great Leinster are. I’ve not seen you criticise them or is that different?
Really disappointing for Robert. Hope he come back stronger. Lucky we have good depth out wide.
Similar to Paul O’Connell it seems, in how it happened. Hopefully nothing near as bad
@Gareth Ward: Hope it’s not. Because of his age chances are he might make a full recovery and hopefully he does
Shame for him and Ulster as he is a big time player who has already established himself as someone with that match winning X factor quality.
Ulster don’t have the strength in depth and can ill afford to be missing players of his ability.
At least he has age on his side and that hopefully will lead to a full and speedy recovery
The 42 should stop with the injuries stories today.
@Chris Mc: Pretty bad news day all round isnt it