All Blacks dealt double injury blow after Ellis Park triumph against Boks
INJURY UPDATE: The All Blacks’ impressive 33-16 victory over the Springboks in the opening Test of the Rugby Greatest Rivalry series at Ellis Park on Saturday may have come at a cost.
This is after head coach Dave Rennie confirmed that loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord could be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
De Groot and Lord both left the field in the 37th minute after clashing heads while attempting to win the ball back from a Springbok ruck.
They were both escorted off the field for an HIA (head injury assessment) and were replaced by George Bower and Simon Parker, who played the duration of the match and held the fort against a powerful Bok pack.
After the match, Rennie revealed the severity of their injuries.
“They are the only two injuries tonight,” he said.
“It was a head clash which is problematic and long-term. Obviously neither of those guys can play on Tuesday [against the Lions].
“Probably can’t play on Saturday; it depends on the protocols and what happened on the sideline. I would need to confirm that.”
Rennie also revealed that De Groot went into the game carrying some sickness from Friday’s captain’s run.
“He was crook [sick] overnight,” he explained.
“He went home early from the captains’ run yesterday [Friday] and spent lunchtime in bed, but you know, he’s tough and bared up and gave us plenty tonight.”
The All Blacks have been hit hard with injuries in this tour after sending four players home.
They are also sweating over the availability of loose forward Anton Segner, who was pulled from the bench before the Test and replaced by Simon Parker.
Segner has a swollen ankle which has been “assessed as acute inflammatory arthritis”.
The All Blacks are yet to determine when he will return to play or whether he will return home.
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