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‘He’s out’: Shannon Frizell set to miss World Cup opener with 'niggly' injury

Shannon Frizell runs through drills during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Mt Smart Stadium on June 30, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Flanker Shannon Frizell has picked up a “niggly” hamstring injury in the leadup to the All Blacks clash with rivals South Africa at Twickenham next weekend.

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The rampaging loose forward was compared to legendary All Black Jerome Kaino after starring against the World Champion Springboks at Mt Smart Stadium last month.

Dazzling winger Will Jordan set up Aaron Smith for the opening try of the contest in the opening few minutes, and Frizell added to their lead shortly after. Frizell ran over Willie le Roux, and was generally sensational that night.

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It was Frizell’s best Test in an All Blacks jersey.

Frizell joins 103-Test veteran Brodie Retallick on the sidelines, with both players also set to miss the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup opener against France on September 9 (NZST).

Retallick limped off the field at Forsyth Barr Stadium during New Zealand’s come-from-behind win over the Wallabies in Bledisloe II with a knee injury.

“Brodie is progressing really well, and we’ll assess more next week,” Foster told reporters on Friday. “He’s out of the South Africa game and likely to be out of the French game.

“We’ve got Shannon Frizell who tweaked his hamstring two days ago doing a speed session. Again, that’s probably a similar time frame, so that’s a bit niggly for us.”

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The injury could potentially propel loose forward Luke Jacobson into the starting side at blindside flanker, and Dalton Papali’i is another option if coach Foster opts for a backrow reshuffle.

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On Thursday morning, Jacobson spoke with RugbyPass about the All Blacks’ chance of hoisting the Webb Ellis Cup.

“I think things are tracking pretty well, and it’s not going to be an easy feat but we’ve got some awesome coaches here, they’re doing a good job,” Jacobson said.

“We’ve got some awesome players and experienced players leading us in the right way.

“We’re already moulding together as you might see from the last few games but I think we’ve still got more to offer so it’s exciting to see where we can get to.”

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8 Comments
G
Greg 493 days ago

I agree this is a big blow and puts the blow-torch on the decision to select only 5 loosies. You can't play Papali'i or Jacobson at 6 as our 3rd line-out option - they'd be marking Ollivon, a giant (like Du Toit and Lawes). The ABs thought they had Frizzell covered by Scott Barrett, but with Retallick also injured, it really cuts out the options. If they go with Barrett at 6, would they start with Vai'i at lock with Whitelock? Or risk starting Vai'i at 6 (less experienced than Barrett there). Or go with an underpowered 6 like Papali' or Jacobson and risk our set piece? I wonder if one of the over-populated back threes will 'pull a hammie' next week, so Finau or Lord can join the squad?

H
Harrison 494 days ago

Well that aint good hes a machine shannon frizell. this is why they should have brought finau in the squad instead of clarke because blindisde flanker is most likely getting injured the most players like luke jacobson or dalton papalii could cover blindside flanker but its time for finau to shine after all hes injury cover.

D
David 494 days ago

What are the rules about changing players out of your squad before the official deadline? I was under the impression once you had formally announced your squad to the world cup you can't change the squad unless due to injury?

A
Andrew 494 days ago

Papalii at 6? How about we do something novel and choose a 6 at 6 and not a 7.

N
Northandsouth 495 days ago

This makes me nervous with only five flankers and four locks in the 33 and Retallick already injured. I'd drop a winger and add Finau to the squad before the deadline on the 28th.

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JW 5 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

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