All Blacks face midfield conundrum
INJURY UPDATE: The All Blacks will be without both first-choice centres for Bledisloe II, coach Steve Hansen said Sunday.
He confirmed Ryan Crotty would miss the encounter in Auckland – which is also a Rugby Championship Round Two fixture – after being knocked out in this past Saturday’s 38-13 first Test win in Sydney.
Sonny Bill Williams was already out injured before the week’s Sydney outing.
Hansen said he would be forced to check on the fitness of Hurricanes’ Vince Aso, who has been out since May after damaging wrist ligaments during the Super Rugby season.
“The guy we’re pretty keen on is Aso, we’re trying to get an update on his about how his wrist is,” he told reporters.
Hansen said wing Rieko Ioane was sidelined after picking up a hamstring tear in Sydney.
The injuries may give Australia a glimmer of hope for next week’s must-win second Test at Eden Park, a venue where they have not tasted victory since 1986.
Another loss would see New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 16th-straight year.
Hansen said he expected a better performance from the Wallabies in Auckland after they started strongly in Sydney but only to squander possession and succumb to a five-try blitz in the second half.
He did not believe Australia’s loss of fullback Israel Folau to an ankle injury was a fatal blow to their chances, saying Michael Cheika’s men would be desperate for a win.
“We’d be silly to think they haven’t got another player who’s going to step in and wear the jersey with pride and urgency,” Hansen said.
“Their backs are against the wall. They’re going to improve. Teams that get beaten learn better than those that win and are hungrier than those that win.”
AFP
