1
Scott Robertson addresses Finau and Barrett injuries after France loss
By Ned Lester
The All Blacks will be down yet another flanker when they face Italy in Turin to finish Scott Robertson's first year as head coach, with Samipeni Finau ineligible for selection after suffering a concussion in the team's loss to France over the weekend.
The New Zealand squad were already without players like Dalton Papali'i, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson and Sam Cane, although the good news is Cane is on track to be available for selection against Italy in what would be his final game for the All Blacks.
Robertson said the deep gash Cane suffered against Ireland was healing well. The All Blacks will be hoping Cane is cleared for the Test, not just to farewell the former captain with a strong performance, but to bolster what is an inexperienced available loose forward unit.
With Finau's early exit just one minute into the France test, one-cap 21-year-old Peter Lakai came into the game for a 79-minute shift alongside fellow Test rookie Wallace Sititi and vice-captain Ardie Savea.
Finau's concussion comes with protocols that will cause him to miss the upcoming Italy Test.
"That's a 12-day stand-down for a start, so he's not available," Robertson told media the morning after the loss.
Should Cane also fail to meet the mark, Lakai would be staring at his first Test start and the All Blacks would have to call on another of their recently recruited uncapped All Blacks XV players to fortify the bench. Those candidates are Christian Lio-Willie and Du'Plessis Kirifi.
Robertson had high praise for Lakai after the game, calling him "the future", he doubled down on that sentiment the next morning.
"He was accurate, volunteered, backed his skill set. He had a great game for a second Test and with the enormity of it, it was special," he said.
The other injury withdrawal from the Paris Test was inside centre Jordie Barrett, who had a rib complaint but more concerningly a knee injury. The coach made it clear the knee in question was Barrett's right knee, not the left one which recently suffered an MCL injury.
"He's woken up a little bit better, he'll get a scan and get that checked this morning so we'll have more on that later today," Robertson reported, adding there were no more significant concerns on the injury front: "Just a few bumps and bruises but nothing of note."
Injury won't be the only factor dictating selection for the Italy Test though, with fatigue after 13 Tests in five months to consider as well as finding opportunities for younger players against a team New Zealand have historically beaten by an average of 51 points.
"It will be the best team for Italy. This year's been a great year for us to play 12 debutants, give them game time, get them in, get good combinations and get a bit of cohesion going and this week will be no different.
"A few of these guys are coming into their fourth game in a row now, because we had a few that played Japan, and we'll get the balance for the best team this week."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Richie Mo'unga lifts lid on '27 World Cup hopes
3
Bath face nervous wait on England's lock injury news
4
Sharks player ratings vs Leinster | 2024/25 URC
5
Latest Comments
VERIFIED CRYPTOCURRENCY RESTORATION/FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY.
As a designer, I’m always on the lookout for new tools to improve my workflow. So, when I saw an ad on LinkedIn for a “revolutionary” design software, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The ad promised to streamline my design process with amazing features at an unbeatable price. Without a second thought, I clicked the link and made the purchase. But soon after buying the software, I realized it was a scam. The software never worked as promised, and when I tried to reach out for support, the company vanished without a trace. I was left feeling frustrated and powerless. 5,000 NZD, a significant amount for anyone, especially a freelancer, was gone, and there was no way to get it back… or so I thought. I was at a loss for what to do next. That’s when I discovered FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY. At first, I wasn’t sure if they could help. Could anyone actually recover money lost to online scams? But, desperate and with no other options, I decided to reach out. I contacted FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY, they explained the process in detail, reassured me that they would do everything in their power to recover my funds, and kept me updated every step of the way. To my amazement, just two days after I reached out, they successfully recovered 4,800 NZD of the 5,000 NZD I had lost. The relief I felt when I saw that money back in my account was indescribable. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Since then, I’ve made it a point to share my experience with other designers in the community. I want to raise awareness about the scams that are out there and remind others to be cautious when browsing for new software. Scammers can target anyone, even professionals like us. But I also want to let fellow designers know that if they do fall victim to fraud, they don’t have to give up. FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY is there to help. Now, I always tell others: Be skeptical of ads that seem too good to be true, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. But if you do get scammed, there’s hope. Don’t hesitate to contact FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERY(at)TECH-CENTER. CO M, (WhatsApp): +1 (740)705-0711. They helped me get my money back in just two days, and they can help you too.
Warm greetings,
Mr. Gilbert Jonathan
Go to commentsAs a seasoned entrepreneur, I prided myself on due diligence. But when an associate introduced me to a "high-yield crypto platform" backed by polished presentations and fake regulatory licenses, I let my guard down. The platform promised 25% monthly returns through "algorithmic trading." I poured in $775,000 USDT, For months, the dashboard showed soaring profits. Then, the withdrawal requests stalled. Excuses turned to silence. The platform’s domain expired. My heart sank: I’d been ensnared by scam. The loss was paralyzing. My family’s future hung in the balance. Lawyers warned that cross-border crypto scams were nearly impossible to prosecute. I spent sleepless nights scouring blockchain explorers, tracing my USDT to anonymous wallets, but hit dead ends. Then, a cybersecurity contact mentioned Dexdert Net, a firm with a reputation for untangling sophisticated crypto fraud, desperate, I reached out. Dexdert’s team responded promptly, exuding professionalism. They asked for transaction records, wallet addresses, and scammer communications. Their transparency stood out—no upfront fees, just a contingency plan explaining their approach: tracing blockchain transactions, collaborating with exchanges, and leveraging legal channels. Though complex, it reassured me. Weeks passed with regular updates. Dexdert’s experts traced my USDT to a wallet flagged for scams. Dexdert’s persistence was unwavering. They worked tirelessly and successfully recovered my funds, My $775,000 USDT was secured in a new wallet, verified by my own eyes. Relief washed over me—I’d regained control, they restored my faith. To others, I urge: research thoroughly, question "too good" offers, and act swiftly if scammed. While not all stories end like mine, Dexdert’s expertise turned my despair into hope—a second chance I’ll never take for granted.
CONTACT THEM, DEXDERT NET RECOVERY ARE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
WhatsApp: (+1 _859_ 609‑4156) Telegram:( @Dexdertprorecovery) Email:(DexdertNetPro@mail.com)
Go to comments