Ian Foster provides injury update on World Cup-bound Emoni Narawa

Coach Ian Foster has provided an injury update on one-Test All Black Emoni Narawa after the winger was named in New Zealand’s 33-man World Cup on Monday.

Narawa made a try-scoring debut in the black jersey during New Zealand’s convincing 41-12 win over Argentina in Mendoza last month.

About 30 minutes after the full-time siren sounded, the electrifying outside back walked down the tunnel at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas with a smile on his face.

Narawa was officially All Black No. 1208, and it seemed that nothing could bring his high spirits down.

But it was later revealed that Narawa had sustained a back injury after the Test, and the 24-year-old was ultimately ruled out of the next three Tests.

Narawa was seen doing some running on the hallowed turf at Forsyth Barr Stadium last Saturday –alongside Chiefs teammate Josh Lord –  in what was a positive indication that a return wasn’t too far away.

Coach Ian Foster expects Narawa’s “name to be in the hat” when the All Blacks take on fierce rivals South Africa at Twickenham at the end of August.

“He didn’t train fully with the team but he moved pretty fully before the Dunedin Test,” Foster told reporters.

“We didn’t feel we needed to test him in contact and all that sort of stuff, even though he wanted to.

“We knew he didn’t have to play that game and now he’s with us he’s got this time here, he’s got eight days at home and then we head over to London. We’ll obviously reassess that.

“We’ve got some options to recover that if he hasn’t but certainly I would expect his name to be in the hat.”

The All Blacks take on the world-champion Springboks in their final Test before the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand open their tournament against hosts and favourites France on September 9 (NZST) in Paris.