Knee injury may rule Danielli out of Tests

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 22:44

SIMON Danielli could miss Scotland’s autumn Test series after suffering knee ligament damage in an innocuous training-ground incident.

The former Bath and Borders winger shot into the international arena with tries in his opening matches in the Rugby World Cup 2003 and, after struggling with injuries and increased competition from the Lamont brothers, Sean and Rory, Simon Webster, Nikki Walker and, recently, Thom Evans, he forced his way back into the Scotland side for the first Test against Argentina in Rosario. A bruised knee bone caused him to miss the second Test, which Scotland won in Buenos Aires.

After the closure of the Borders last year, Danielli joined Ulster where he became a regular starter. Ulster assistant coach Steve Williams admitted he was gearing up to play a key role again this season.

He told The Scotsman: “He has been very unlucky and I feel very sorry for him. Simon jumped to catch a ball in training and landed badly.

“He has a knee injury that will keep him out for maybe ten weeks and is in a knee brace. But he is a great athlete and is in great shape. We will miss him.”

Danielli faces a race to reach match fitness before the Scotland squad is named to face New Zealand at Murrayfield on 6 November, and will face stiff competition from the fit-again Lamonts, Walker, Evans and Chris Paterson.

Edinburgh are hoping for better news on Ben Cairns, the international centre who also suffered knee ligament damage in Edinburgh’s win over Wasps on Saturday. Still on crutches and in a knee brace, Cairns underwent a scan yesterday and expects the results tomorrow. The rest of the squad headed south to Bath to prepare for tomorrow’s final pre-season friendly with the European Challenge Cup champions.