The All Blacks on Tuesday said injuries had forced number eight Kieran Read and flanker Sam Cane out of New Zealand's opening Test against England, with winger Julian Savea also in doubt.
Coach Steve Hansen said Read was suffering from concussion and would miss Saturday's match in Auckland, while Cane was out for the entire three-Test series after scans showed he had a small knee fracture picked up in the Waikato Chiefs' loss to the NSW Waratahs on Saturday.
Hansen said Savea was undergoing tests on his knee to determine if he could play on Saturday.
He said Read, the reigning IRB World Player of the Year, was feeling the effects of two concussions which have sidelined him for much of this year's Super 15 competition.
"Kieran Read's woken up not feeling the best so we've immediately withdrawn him, we're not prepared to risk him playing," Hansen told reporters.
He said the 28-year-old was frustrated at missing out but management were taking no chances with concussion.
"It's our decision not his and we're just progressing him day by day," he said.
Steven Luatua has been brought into the All Blacks squad to replace Read, while Matt Todd was already with the group as cover for Cane.
Source: AFP
GMT 15:56 2018 Thursday ,04 January
Mountain bike world champ seriously hurt in car crashGMT 16:26 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Browns end perfectly awful season -- 0-16GMT 17:31 2018 Monday ,01 January
FIFA claims attempt to contact doping whistleblower RodchenkovGMT 08:59 2018 Monday ,01 January
Lukaku carried off after clash of headsGMT 15:27 2017 Wednesday ,27 December
Djokovic determined to learn from injury miseryGMT 14:13 2017 Monday ,25 December
Southampton's Austin charged with violent conductGMT 18:37 2017 Tuesday ,19 December
West Ham's Lanzini charged over divingGMT 19:31 2017 Sunday ,17 December
Montpellier's Cruden suffers knee injuryMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor