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Broken thumb leaves All Blacks' Squire a doubt for Lions opener

New Zealand and Highlanders flanker Liam Squire faces six weeks on the sidelines after breaking his thumb in the Super Rugby clash with Cheetahs.

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Squire has been in the conversation to start for the All Blacks against the British and Irish Lions with Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino both on the sidelines through injury.

But he faces a race against time for the first Test of the three-match series on June 24 at Eden Park after injuring himself in the dramatic 45-41 win at Cheetahs.

“It is broken and he’s on the plane home. He’s probably looking at six weeks out for a broken thumb,” Highlanders coach Tony Brown told reporters on Friday.

“With Kieran Read out, Liam was probably next cab off the rank [for the All Blacks]. Hopefully, both Kieran and Jerome Kaino can get back in time for the Lions.”

Squire signed a two-year contract extension at Highlanders last month.

Watch every game of the Lions Tour of NZ streaming live on rugbypass.com, home of the best online rugby coverage including news, highlights, previews & reviews, live scores, and more!

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Nickers 36 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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