Super Rugby
Blues injury troubles continue
ESPN Staff
April 1, 2014
Jerome Kaino is expected to take the role of captain if Luke Braid is unavailable © Getty Images
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Blues coach Sir John Kirwan has told Fairfax Media that captain Luke Braid will have to be treated carefully and won't take part in any contact sessions until the end of the week and is unlikely to start this weekend after he suffered a shoulder stinger against the Highlanders.

The Blues are also likely to lose Jackson Willison from the starting line-up, after he also suffered battered ribs and a knee complaint against the Highlanders. The two losses add to the already-troubling injury list, which hit double figures on Tuesday.

"We need to be careful with him," Kirwan said the skipper. "It's not great, we've got a beaten up Jackson Willison this week and with [lock] Tom Donnelly out we're struggling a wee bit. Jacko is probably going to be unavailable this week. Luke Braid is really struggling as well and Peter Saili is in a moonboot."

Braid's niggles could leave the Blues without a captain and with Keven Mealamu still recovering from a calf-strain, Jerome Kaino could be expected to take the role in only his third match since his return from Japan.

"Someone like Jerome is putting his hand up pretty quick. He'll probably take over the captaincy role for us," Kirwan said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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