Cordingley's comeback delayed
March 15, 2001

The struggling Reds will be without halfback Sam Cordingley for their next Super 12 clash against defending champions the Crusaders, in Christchurch, on Friday week.

The Wallaby halfback was hopeful of making his return from a shoulder injury in Christchurch, but has been told to wait another week. Cordingley has not played since sustaining the injury against the Auckland Blues during the pre-season and is now expected to return against the Brumbies, at Ballymore, on March 31.

"I've been told I won't be ready for that game so I really have to aim for the Brumbies match," Cordingley told AAP. "I've only just taken my arm out of a sling and I have to get through a full week of contact work at training before I'm ready.

"I've run for the first time since I was hurt and it feels pretty good."

Queensland have missed Cordingley's sure hands in the opening three rounds, with a victory against the Hurricanes in the first round their only joy. Since then the Reds had a disappointing loss to the Chiefs before a painful final-minute 39-35 loss to the Blues last Sunday.

The Reds have a bye this weekend, followed by the Brumbies then a tough tour of South Africa with games against the Stormers and the Bulls.

"This is a similar draw to what we had last year when we had a bye and then came back into a very hard game," Cordingley said. "But there are no easy games in the Super 12 and we have to try and win these away games and not think about what could have been.

"If things had gone our way the last two weeks we would have taken nine points from New Zealand instead of three."

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