New Zealand winger Waisake Naholo out of World Cup
Saturday 18 July 2015 10:04, UK
New Zealand winger Waisake Naholo has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a broken leg during his Test debut against Argentina on Friday.
Fiji-born Naholo, who scored 13 tries for the Dunedin-based Highlanders during the Super Rugby season, left the field midway through the second half of the All Blacks’ 39-18 victory in the Rugby Championship opener with what was thought to be a sprained ankle.
He was subsequently omitted from New Zealand’s 31-man squad for the Championship match against the Springboks in Johannesburg next weekend after X-rays revealed he had suffered a cracked fibia.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Naholo is likely to be sidelined for three months, although there is a small chance he could join the New Zealand squad in the later stages of the World Cup this autumn if another player was injured.
"It's pretty disappointing for him and for us," Hansen said. "We're all a bit shocked by it because he was weight-bearing on it and he looked pretty good.
“But he got back here last night and it got really sore so Doc thought he better get it scanned and in the scan there's a very fine crack in it. It means three months (out)."
Hansen has also omitted Dan Carter from the squad to face the Springboks as he continues to manage the fly-half’s workload ahead of the World Cup.
Live Rugby Championship
Carter, 33, started against the Pumas and scored 14 points but Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga are now set to battle it out for the No 10 shirt next weekend.
Centre Sonny Bill Williams will also be left behind in New Zealand with Conrad Smith likely to resume his centre partnership with Ma’a Nonu at Ellis Park.
New Zealand squad:
Forwards: Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Tony Woodcock, James Broadhurst, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Samuel Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Victor Vito.
Backs: Andy Ellis, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.
Watch South Africa v New Zealand live on Sky Sports 1 at 3.30pm on Saturday July 25.
