Larkham’s hopes of playing again at Cup

MONTPELLIER – Injury-jinxed Wallaby flyhalf Stephen Larkham says he hopes to leave hospital on Wednesday still determined to play again at the World Cup.

The 102-Test playmaker has played only once in France and was rocked when he was told he needed a second arthroscopic surgery after an infection set in on his recently operated right knee. Coach John Connolly said Larkham would definitely not be considered for this weekend’s game against Canada or the following week’s quarter-final.”The best case scenario is he will be available for the semi-finals,” Connolly said late Tuesday, if the Australians progress to that stage of the tournament.But Larkham, who locked his knee in training before the Australians’ second match against Wales in Cardiff over a week ago and needed minor surgery, remains hopeful of playing some further part in his farewell World Cup before international retirement.”There’s still hope that I’ll play again,” Larkham told an Australian newspaper.”The best case scenario for me would be the quarter-final but I’d also be very happy if it was the semi-final a week later.”It’s a matter of getting the swelling down now.”It was a more intrusive procedure than the first one (on September 16).But I’ve had some good news already.They thought I was going to be in hospital for four days.It looks now like I’ll get out tomorrow (Wednesday).”Larkham, 33, had been anticipating playing some part of Saturday’s match against Canada in Bordeaux before his latest setback in an injury-plagued playing career.In another development, Australian media reports suggested that Toulouse was Larkham’s only possibility of playing club rugby in France after the World Cup.Nampa-ReutersCoach John Connolly said Larkham would definitely not be considered for this weekend’s game against Canada or the following week’s quarter-final.”The best case scenario is he will be available for the semi-finals,” Connolly said late Tuesday, if the Australians progress to that stage of the tournament.But Larkham, who locked his knee in training before the Australians’ second match against Wales in Cardiff over a week ago and needed minor surgery, remains hopeful of playing some further part in his farewell World Cup before international retirement.”There’s still hope that I’ll play again,” Larkham told an Australian newspaper.”The best case scenario for me would be the quarter-final but I’d also be very happy if it was the semi-final a week later.”It’s a matter of getting the swelling down now.”It was a more intrusive procedure than the first one (on September 16).But I’ve had some good news already.They thought I was going to be in hospital for four days.It looks now like I’ll get out tomorrow (Wednesday).”Larkham, 33, had been anticipating playing some part of Saturday’s match against Canada in Bordeaux before his latest setback in an injury-plagued playing career.In another development, Australian media reports suggested that Toulouse was Larkham’s only possibility of playing club rugby in France after the World Cup.Nampa-Reuters