Tense two weeks in the life of Roger Randle

By CHRIS RATTUE

Roger Randle leapt about his living room when Sione Lauaki scored his remarkable try to give the Chiefs a landmark victory over the Blues at Eden Park.

"I was okay for those 10 seconds," says the 29-year-old Randle, a prolific Super 12 tryscorer with 32 touchdowns in 64 games.

If and when Chiefs wing Randle leaps about the field again is another matter. The next fortnight, he believes, will be vital as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered at the end of the last Super 12.

The Chiefs' match against the Waratahs in Hamilton on March 27 has become critical to Randle.

"I don't expect to be selected but at least if I'm fit to be considered ... Otherwise I may have to think about sitting out the Super 12 and get myself ready for the NPC," Randle said.

The good news for former All Black Randle is that the tendon is fine, whereas six months ago he wondered if he might play again. The bad news is muscle wastage in his left leg.

Randle's recovery was set back by two infections which made a second operation necessary.

Whereas most Achilles patients are in a "moon boot" for two months, Randle wore one for five-and-a-half months, with the foot set pointing towards the ground.

That left stiffness in the ankle joint. And while the circumference of his left leg has increased 8cm since the boot was removed in October, he still has plenty of muscle build-up to go.

"We've never dealt with a player immobilised this long. We still don't really know," Chiefs physio Dennis Shepherd said about a Randle comeback.

There are signs Randle's legendary pace may return. He has clocked a decent 5.4s for the 40m sprint, but needs to get under five to be of wing speed.

Randle says: "I'll have a great morning session, then it will be bad in the afternoon. It's a roller coaster. I keep getting niggles in other parts of the body. I don't want to get down in front of the others - no one wants someone moping around.

"I had one game of touch which felt really good, but it took two days to recover. Sometimes I jog, sometimes cycle. Sometimes I sit and watch. Other injured players come and go. I'm always the one left, and I get brassed off. But I knew it was going to be like this."