Rugby: Toeava to miss rest of Super 15

Isaia Toeava. Photo / Getty Images

Blues fullback Isaia Toeava will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season for the franchise with a recurrence of a stress fracture to his hip.

It's the same problem Toeava had last year which ruined his season and while the doctors say it's not as bad as before and he should still be available come All Blacks time, it's a crushing blow for him and the Blues.

"We found out today that the stress fracture that he has in his hip has returned," Blues coach Pat Lam confirmed.

"While it's not as bad as last time, he'll need six to eight weeks of non weight-bearing exercise and then he'll be free to train again.

"That effectively rules him out for the rest of our season.

"He will be available for All Blacks rugby but it's disappointing for Ice [Toeava] and a big loss for us as a team.

"He'll start that whole process now, he's been through a longer process before that and on the bright side it's not as bad as before but it's just too much of a risk to continue."

Lam didn't believe there were any long-term issues for Toeava for the rest of his career with the hip problem that won't seem to go away.

"The specialists are confident that it's not a new stress fracture, it's the one that he did a few years ago, it has just resurfaced again and it's a case of getting off his feet and he should be right to resume training in six weeks.''

Toeava's injury is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the casualty list at the Blues.

It is so bad that Lam has had to select four players from the wider training group for Friday's game against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

"We selected 32 players at the start of the season we've only got 20 available, then you consider three of those are halfback and three of those are hookers, we've got 18 available,'' said Lam.

The injury to Toeava, plus Luke McAlister who injured an ankle last weekend against the Highlanders has caused a major backline reshuffle.

Benson Stanley comes in at second-five, Rene Ranger goes from wing to centre and Jared Payne goes out from centre to fullback and Lachie Munro will start his first game on the wing for the Blues.

Thankfully Lam hasn't had to make any changes to the forwards, although Chris Lowrey's partner is due to have a baby on Saturday and that could take him out of the equation also.

Blues team:Jared Payne, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Lachie Munro, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saiili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Chris Lowrey, John Afoa, Keven Mealumu (captain), Tevita Mailau. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Pauliasi Manu, James King, Sean Tolwart, Chris Smylie, Aaron Bancroft, Sherwin Stowers.

- NZPA