SITIVENI SIVIVATU SUFFERED a fractured eye socket during his side’s 30-14 victory over Australia at Eden Park but is not an injury worry ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry confirmed the nature of the injury on Sunday morning before adding that prop Tony Woodcock will be among the players to travel to South Africa for the Kiwis’ next Tri-Nations fixture.
“(Sitiveni)’s got a fractured eye socket which is not good. He probably will miss South Africa but probably will be right for Brisbane.”
Woodcock has a hamstring concern after hurting his hamstring during the week – much to Henry’s amusement – but should feature against the Springboks.
“I didn’t think he ran fast enough to get one of those – and medical staff don’t want to risk it.”
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New Zealand are likely to take just 24 players to Port Elizabeth including Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava and centre Richard Kahui.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, meanwhile, was deeply disappointed by his team’s performance but expressed the hope that his younger players would at least learn from the experience. He said:
“I think this group will be an awful better for that experience. Because that performance by (New Zealand) is probably as good as it gets in terms of taking everything that’s presented to them, in terms of making our life as difficult as they possibly could. Tactically, we’ll be wiser for it.”
Watch out for former Leinster star Rocky Elsom’s nice finish in the second half:
Henry to test his reserves in South Africa
SITIVENI SIVIVATU SUFFERED a fractured eye socket during his side’s 30-14 victory over Australia at Eden Park but is not an injury worry ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry confirmed the nature of the injury on Sunday morning before adding that prop Tony Woodcock will be among the players to travel to South Africa for the Kiwis’ next Tri-Nations fixture.
Woodcock has a hamstring concern after hurting his hamstring during the week – much to Henry’s amusement – but should feature against the Springboks.
New Zealand are likely to take just 24 players to Port Elizabeth including Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava and centre Richard Kahui.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, meanwhile, was deeply disappointed by his team’s performance but expressed the hope that his younger players would at least learn from the experience. He said:
Watch out for former Leinster star Rocky Elsom’s nice finish in the second half:
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Australia Graham Henry Kiwi Power New Zealand Robbie Deans Tri-Nations