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George Bridge's season over following All Blacks training injury
The All Blacks have been dealt another blow as they prepare for the second Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park on Sunday – with the season over for George Bridge following a training injury. Bridge started on the left wing in the draw with the Wallabies in Wellington last Sunday, playing all 88 minutes and setting up half-back Aaron Smith’s second-half strike after making a break from a set lineout move.
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It’s understood Bridge suffered a serious pectoral injury during a training session on Wednesday and he will now be out for up to six months.
The New Zealand Herald understands young utility back Will Jordan was supposed to be released, along with wing Sevu Reece and prop Tyrel Lomax, to join Tasman for their Mitre 10 Cup match against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.
In the wake of Bridge’s injury, Jordan has instead been held back in All Blacks camp. Bridge’s injury, though, may pave the way for Blues wing Caleb Clarke to be elevated to the starting All Blacks team.
Clarke impressed in his Test debut off the bench last week with several powerful carries pressing his case for further game time. Far from overawed by stepping up to the Test arena, the 21-year-old seemed immediately at home, and he would relish the chance to run out at his home ground.
In young star Caleb Clarke, the All Blacks may have found a new leading candidate to claim the No. 11 jersey this weekend. #BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS https://t.co/PVzAuUnFbY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 14, 2020
With Bridge out, the All Blacks will be forced to reshuffle their back three. All Blacks coach Ian Foster may start with Beauden Barrett at full-back, brother Jordie on the right wing and Clarke on the left unless he and fellow selectors Grant Fox and John Plumtree opt to shift under-fire Rieko Ioane from centre to the edge where he has started 25 of his 30 Tests.
Losing Bridge is the latest injury to hit the All Blacks, who confirmed the blow after the Herald broke the news. “All Blacks winger George Bridge will be out of rugby for up to six months after suffering a chest injury in field training yesterday [Wednesday],” a statement from the All Blacks read. “He’ll be assessed over the next 48 hours to determine the next course of action.”
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Veteran lock Sam Whitelock is a doubtful starter after suffering post-match headaches which could see Scott Barrett thrown straight in for his first match in three months following toe surgery.
Richie Mo’unga is also nursing a bruised shoulder and Beauden Barrett continues to contend with a niggly achilles issue that forced him to pull out two days before the opening Bledisloe Cup Test last week, with Damian McKenzie taking his place at the back.
Otago playmaker Josh Ioane was called into camp earlier this week as injury cover but he has since been released, indicating Mo’unga and Barrett have done enough to prove their fitness.
Otago hooker Liam Coltman and Wellington midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen also trained with the All Blacks but have, likewise, been released to play for their respective provincial sides this weekend.
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– New Zealand Herald
It wouldn't be a Bledisloe series without a few upset coaches.#AllBlacks #Wallabies #BledisloeCuphttps://t.co/zBoutP14lo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 14, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Lots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
1 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to comments