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Steve Hansen gives Laumape and Retallick injury update
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Ngani Laumape and Brodie Retallick are in doubt for New Zealand's clash with South Africa after sustaining injuries in Saturday's win over Argentina.
Both players were forced from the field inside 10 minutes at Trafalgar Park as the All Blacks' depth was tested during a hard-earned 46-24 victory.
Laumape sustained knee ligament damage in a tackle before experienced lock Retallick landed awkwardly on his right shoulder amid a harrowing start that also saw Ben Smith suffer a blow to the head.
The concerns come at an inopportune time with the Rugby Championship leaders to meet the Springboks in Wellington next weekend.
"Ngani has done a knee ligament," coach Steve Hansen confirmed after the match.
"We don't know how long that's going to be. We'll get a better idea [in the next few days].
"Brodie's shoulder is pretty sore but, again, we don't know until we get them scanned on Monday. I can't really tell you any more than that they're both pretty sore boys."
Hansen had made seven changes for the clash with the Pumas and was encouraged by the manner in which his younger players handled the occasion.
"They experienced something they haven't before. It's big step up from Super Rugby," he said.
"We kept letting [Argentina] back into it. It's a good lesson for our group. We showed a lot of strength of character."
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Latest Comments
33, unlikely?
It’s actually an interesting question, how does his RL career impact you perception of his ‘rugby age’?
I’d imagine he’s fresher than a 26 yo rugby player, he’s fitting and done more k’s, but had less impacts (unsure of his injuries).
Anyway, your conclusion doesn’t really hit the mark. What you’ve not asked yourself is would he be better at 33, with 6 years under his belt, than 28/9, and only 2 years experience. If he really is considering it a major goal of course, he may just want an Olympic medal and leave etc.
Still, in relation to your topic, what I suspected would be his thinking is the ever increasing value in playing in Japan. Perhaps he’d try and give this first WC a go, trying to make it in the All Blacks, obviously playing Super Rugby, then he’d take a much bigger contract in Japan? Learn how to run around people with better accuracy and consistency (rofl), and then return to NZ as an improved player to Australia 2027, with the hope to fine tune further and make the most of his marketability in the bonanza that America 2031 is going to leave behind. 33 is still prime earning age and who knows what the MLR market is going to be like them, if teams have started to have major backers etc.
It’s all about the money afterall (yes, I wasn’t referring to his ability re USA31’)!
Go to commentsNo, just an overly zealous fan who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
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