Select Edition

Northern
Southern
Global
NZ

All Black prop Moody suffers freak eye injury in training

By Online Editors

All Black prop Joe Moody will take no part in the All Blacks showdown with England in London after suffering a freak eye injury in training.

The grumesome injury saw the prop suffer a nasty gash to his eyelid, which occured during an All Blacks session at the at the Lensbury Hotel in London yesterday.

Moody wass attended to by team physician, Dr Tony Page on the scene but the All Black will now miss out the game with England.

According to Joy Reid of TVNZ: "Coach Steve Hansen says he split his eyelid during line out practice. He needed 3 layers of stitches. The plastic surgeon says he is unable to play rugby for 6 weeks."

Moody's injury was clearly visible when the team visited the McLaren Technology centre in Woking.

Joe Moody of the All Blacks with an injury to his eye suffered during training during a New Zealand All Blacks visit to the McLaren Technology Centre (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The All Blacks and England have met 40 times in Test matches with the All Blacks winning 32, England winning seven and there has been one draw.

Meanwhile outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder is to miss the Maori All Blacks matches against Brazil and Chile after hurting his shoulder in last weekend's All Blacks Test against Japan

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said it was too early to know the extent of Milner-Skudder’s injury and he would return to New Zealand for further assessment.

Jackson Hemopo, Bryn Hall and Matt Proctor all returned to New Zealand with the bulk of the Japan squad today before flying out to Sao Paulo, Brazil to join the M?ori All Blacks. The remainder of the All Blacks squad and management flies to London today.

Milner-Skudder's return to New Zealand has meant a call-up for Auckland speedster Jordan Trainor to join the M?ori All Blacks for the remainder of their tour.

In England camp Eddie Jones has retained 25 players to continue England’s preparation. Manu Tuilagi, who missed out on the game against the Springboks after withdrawing late due to a groin strain is among the players in contention to feature against the All Blacks.

Courtney Lawes, is also in line to return after a back problem.

On Monday Eddie Jones said “Manu is back and progressing well – we’re cautiously optimistic he’ll be available this week, the same with Courtney Lawes.”