Injuries are already starting to bite the Wallabies with Will Skelton’s calf and Taniela Tupou’s hamstring causing massive headaches for Eddie Jones and his coaching staff.
While the coach was understandably not in the mood to elaborate on either of his forward warriors, there was still plenty of injury chat at Friday’s team naming press conference – as Nick Frost went into detail on the bizarre reason his first World Cup appearance was delayed.
An ear cut suffered in the first Bledisloe Cup match has been a constant source of frustration and the Wallabies have been getting creative in a bid to solve the stitches popping open and the claret beginning to flow during opposed sessions.
He has eight stitches and “I’ve had it stitched three times. It’s just an annoyance, It’s ripped through the webbing. Pretty much after the tournament we’ll get something done to fix it back up because at the moment, it doesn’t really stay on the side of my head,” Frost said.
(Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
He spent a day in hospital in Darwin after the wound worsened.
“I was going to get quick surgery before we left for Darwin to fix it but I decided against it,” said Frost. “It was infected so I did spend a day there [in hospital] just getting some antibiotics to clear it up. It was sweet but obviously from an infection, it takes more time to heal and that’s evident.
“When we thought we were pretty good to go, I had an accident at training and reopened it so it was back to square one. It’s been a few weeks so it’s very annoying but now, we’re pretty much looking on the right track.”
Frost is nicknamed ‘fruit’ – as in Frosty Fruit – by his Wallabies teammates, some of whom have pitched in to help him out.
“He’s good to go. He’s running out there with a water polo cap on, so he’s got a little bit of a home job, cut a hole in the head gear, put a water polo cap on. So he’s ‘MacGyver’d’ and is doing really well,” said Hooper, while getting a gold star for his 1980s popular culture reference.
“We’ve had to order a few [water polo caps] in and there’s a bit of an arts and craft department working and sewing things out.
“They’ve [team staff] been very supportive and very helpful around that and obviously trying to source a waterpolo cap in the south of France, it was a bit of an issue.”
Nick Frost. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
For now the water polo cap has to stay on the training paddock.
“For protection wise, it’s a bit of headgear, tape and padding. It’s been really annoying because it’s such a small thing which keeps you out but it’s good to get around this weekend. We’ll see how we go this weekend.
“So far, it’s been the best solution we have. Previously, we just had a foam cup over the ear and it was pretty hard to hear so I have the hearing back in one ear.
“I reopened it in the second Bledisloe in the first minute and just played on, got it sorted after the game. With the blood issue, it’s just like any cut. If it’s too bad, you get put in the blood bin but it’s more of an annoyance, not too painful just frustrating.”
Frost has been keeping upbeat despite being sidelines.
“It’s good to see the full squad mentality here, so it’s good to see the other boys get out there and run around,” said Frost.
“And regardless if you’re in the team or not, know whatever your role is, obviously we’re supporting the team. The past two games, it was a great atmosphere, great crowds and they’re the games you want to play in too.”
Frost has had plenty of time to think about his return – some of that spent with Jones’ three team psychologists.
“That’s been a big change for a lot of us. We weren’t really used to having a sports psych involved with the group, so there’s been a lot of change around that and the leadership aspect and a learning as well,”Frost said.
“These are the games you want to play individually and collectively as a team too. We’ve spoken around that, we want to thrive in these moments. That’s what we’ve been trying to emulate at training, these pressure environments so we can perform on the field. And at this stage obviously we’ve had good moments and bad moments. We’ve just got to make sure we’ve got more good ones and be more consistent in that.”
Tony Harperhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2023/09/16/frosty-fruit-and-the-split-melon-arts-and-crafts-approach-that-got-nick-back-on-deck-but-hell-have-to-play-it-by-ear/‘Frosty fruit’ and the split melon: ‘Arts and crafts’ approach that got Nick back on deck – but he’ll have to play it by ear
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