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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
Reiko should be the dual winger guy as he should be used to playing either side given he's had to do both at 13 (pass and step left/right).
Maybe he has such a bad preference that that's why he's not a good center?
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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