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Latest scans reveal true extent of damage to Quinn Tupaea's knee

By Ned Lester
Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images

The All Blacks have announced Quinn Tupaea’s knee injury is more significant than initial scans suggested.

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The team revealed the news on social media Thursday in a statement:

“Further scans have revealed more extensive damage to the ACL which will require surgery. Quinn will be out of rugby for 9 months, including the 2023 Super Rugby Season.”

The injury occurred in the first Bledisloe test when Wallaby lock Darcy Swain attempted a dangerous clear-out on Tupaea at a ruck.

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Swain was yellow carded at the time and later cited, appearing before a SANZAAR judicial committee who served the 25 year old with a six week ban.

The ban wasn’t received well by fans who felt making the ban a matter of weeks rather than games was an improper form of punishment.

Furthering fans distaste for the incident, Australia named Swain in their Australian A side. Many fans interpreted this as a cop out to get one of their top locking options to chew through the ban in a shorter time.

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As for Tupaea, his hopes at a Northern Tour appearance were all but wiped following the initial scan, but this update also puts his World Cup hopes in jeopardy.

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Missing the next Super Rugby season places the chiefs midfielder in a real struggle to make what is already a heavily contested roster for the All Blacks midfield.

While Tupaea was considered the second option to the Crusaders David Havili this international season, a strong showing by Jordie Barrett in the second Bledisloe test as well as the impending return of Anton Lienert-Brown Brown form injury and the development of rugby league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes for a logjam 12 for Ian Foster and his selection panel.

The All Blacks captioned their post:

“Feeling for our mate.

“Recover well, Quinn. Cant’t wait to see you back out there next year.”

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