1
All Blacks camp suffers first casualty as already depleted midfield stocks take a further blow
The All Blacks were already digging deep into the nation’s midfield stocks thanks to a season-ending injury suffered by Jack Goodhue and Ngani Laumape’s departure to France but they’ve now taken a further hit ahead of the July series.
ADVERTISEMENT
One-test utility back Braydon Ennor has been ruled out for the All Blacks’ upcoming three matches due to a bout of appendicitis. The 23-year-old will undergo surgery and spend up to five weeks on the sidelines.
Ennor has enjoyed a torrid run of injuries throughout his career.
The Aucklander ruptured his ACL at the end of his final year of schooling, which ruled him out from the national finals and also prevented him from representing the New Zealand Secondary Schools side.
After cracking the All Blacks in early 2019 but not making the final cut for the World Cup squad, Ennor was exemplary for the Crusaders throughout last year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa season and was due another call-up to the national team. A second ACL rupture, suffered in the North v South exhibition match, sidelined him for the remainder of the season, however.
Ennor only made his return to the field earlier this year, late in the Super Rugby season, but was still selected for the All Blacks for the upcoming July tests against Tonga and Fiji.
With Anton Lienert-Brown likely to miss the first two matches due to some minor elbow surgery, Ennor was looking likely to earn some minutes alongside Crusaders teammate David Havili in the midfield. His latest surgery has put an end to that hope, however.
While the All Blacks are yet to bring a replacement player into the squad, the drums will be beating for Leicester Faginga’anuku who, like Ennor, can play both at centre and on the wing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Other options in the squad include Havili and new cap Quinn Tupaea, who are both No 12s at heart, as well as converted wing Rieko Ioane – who will likely wear the No 13 jersey for at least the opening two matches of the All Blacks’ campaign.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments