Naholo’s recovery captures headlines

AUCKLAND – The Waisake Naholo recovery story seems too amazing to be true.

All Black and 2015 Rugby Cup squad selection Naholo reportedly recovered from a broken fibula in six weeks with traditional medical treatment in Fiji.

When Fijian Naholo suffered a small fracture in his fibula bone – the smaller of the two lower leg bones – during his test debut against Argentina six weeks ago, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen shook his head and said the try-scoring machine’s chances of making the 31-man World Cup squad to travel to Britain appeared to be ruined.

But Naholo, just as he did for the Highlanders when he used his guile and speed to bamboozle opponents to score 13 tries, did something unexpected.

He made a beeline for his homeland of Fiji, where he sought traditional medical treatment, put his faith in the power of positive thinking and proved to the All Blacks he should be fit to play their third pool match against Georgia in Cardiff on October 3.

“I am not sure if that made a difference or not,” Hansen said in reference to the Fiji treatment. “But we just stayed with our plan. He is still on track – in fact he is probably 10 days ahead of what we initially thought.”

Asked about the treatment in Fiji, Naholo downplayed it all, saying he had also placed his trust in the All Blacks’ medical staff: “They are all the same, they all helped. It was just massage and some traditional leaves that they use in Fiji.”

The fact selectors Ian Foster, Grant Fox and Hansen were prepared to name Naholo, whose form with the Highlanders impressed so much they got NZ Rugby to help dig him out of a contract with French club Clermont Auvergne, among their four outside backs says it all.

There is risk in carrying an injured player, but Hansen said the 24-year-old would effectively miss just one match because he wouldn’t have been expected to play in the second pool match against Namibia as it is just four days before the Georgia game.

“What are the rewards of taking Waisake? Well, he is a try-scoring machine, he has X-factor and he brings something to the team that others in the group don’t bring,” Hansen said.

“We can’t win this World Cup by just having the ordinary, we have got to have something different and he provides that. We just feel Waisake has played better throughout the year.”

Shoehorning the Sigatoka-born Naholo, who will join other Fijian pace merchants such as Josevata Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu in representing the All Blacks at a World Cup, has resulted in some high-profile casualties, notably wings Charles Piutau and Cory Jane and fullback Israel Dagg.

“Israel and Cory have been really hampered this year by injuries have probably missed out because we think Waisake is a better footballer,” Hansen explained.

They were not the only ones forced to suck the bitter pill of disappointment; first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga and lock Jeremy Thrush will feel the hurt more than most.

Sopoaga, like Piutau, played a blinder in the win against the Springboks in Johannesburg a month ago, but was overlooked for the more experienced Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade.