WELLINGTON: New Zealand suffered a trio of injury blows yesterday with confirmation that lock Luke Romano will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship, while flyhalves Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett are out of Saturday’s test against Australia.
All three players suffered their injuries during the 47-29 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney last weekend and while Romano’s adductor tear is the most serious injury, Cruden’s might hit the All Blacks the hardest.
Cruden, starting in place of the injured Dan Carter, put in a man of the match performance in Sydney before leaving the pitch with what scans revealed was cruciate ligament damage to his right knee, which will sideline him for two to six weeks.
Barrett came off the bench to replace Cruden but ended up straining a calf, although he should be fit the match against Argentina. REUTERS
