Kiwis are staying positive

Kiwis put on a brave face as Eastwood is ruled out of England match

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 5th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kiwis are staying positive

Eastwood: Out with broken wrist

It's a shame for Greg but it's an opportunity for somebody else

Stephen Kearney
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Also see

New Zealand are trying to look on the bright side following the loss of back-row forward Greg Eastwood for the upcoming Gillette Four Nations clash against England.

Eastwood will be unavailable not only for the Huddersfield Galpharm Stadium match, but also for the final at Elland Road should the Kiwis win the do-or-die showdown.

The 22-year-old former Brisbane Bronco, who will join Super League champions Leeds Rhinos next season, has broken a bone in his left wrist.

The injury occurred when Eastwood, who missed the Kiwis' opening 20-20 draw with Australia due to a hamstring injury, came on as a substitute in their 62-12 triumph over France in Toulouse last weekend.

Eastwood, who featured in New Zealand's World Cup-winning team last year, underwent a scan earlier this week which showed a broken scaphoid and has had his arm put in plaster.

Brave face

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney, who is expected to name his team on Thursday, is putting on a brave face and believes Eastwood's absence will give someone else a chance to show what they can do.

"It's a shame for Greg but it's an opportunity for somebody else," said Kearney.

"We're not short of players - although we don't want to be losing too many more - and are fortunate to have some great talent in players like Ben Matulino, who I thought was magnificent last week.

"We also have Jeff Lima, who has a chance of coming back this week."

The Kiwis will be without two of their most experienced players for their final group game as centre Steve Matai is also unavailable due to an eye injury.

"It's also tough on Steve that he won't be able to play this week but we hope he will be right for the following week should we beat England on Saturday night and make the final," added Kearney.

"We've had our share of injury problems before and during this campaign but we've also seen the way our younger players have responded when given the opportunity."