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The Super Rugby break couldn’t come soon enough for All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.
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But the competition wasn’t going to let up without claiming another few causalties.
In a week that already saw the All Blacks lose midfielder Sonny Bill Williams to injury and potentially lose back rower Liam Squire through suspension, four more All Blacks are in doubt after the round 16 trans-Tasman clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders at FBG Stadium Waikato last night.
Sam Cane (abdominal), Jordan Taufua (calf) and Jack Goodhue (hamstring) were all late scratches from last night’s match while Brodie Retallick was forced from the field in the first half after suffering a pectoral inury.
Chiefs co-captain Cane was due to make his return after a five-week layoff with an abdominal strain, but was taken from the 23 at the last minute.
Head coach Colin Cooper denied the All Blacks staff played a part in Cane’s omission.
“There wasn’t any of that, they left it for us to make the decision between us,” Cooper said.
Cooper was unable to clarify the extent of Retallick’s injury, saying “not sure,” when asked about it post-match.
Retallick’s injury means the All Blacks could possibly be without their two best locks, with Crusader Sam Whitelock battling concussion.
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The Crusaders’ issues with Taufua and Goodhue surfaced ahead of kickoff, with the pair now in doubt of making their test debuts next weekend.
Head coach Scott Robertson confirmed Taufua was struggling with the same calf niggle he had last week.
“It’s the same one obviously from the week earlier, which is a real shame for him. So we just hope he’s in a race for those test matches, to be available,” Robertson said.
For Goodhue, it’s a case of a tight hamstring, with Robertson explaining the 22-year-old’s leg tightened up at the end of their Thursday training session.
“It was very light as well, because we were managing the loads from the camps and the mental and physical side of it. He tested yesterday [Friday] and wasn’t quite right.”
Karl Tu’inukuafe and Richie Mo’unga also went down during the match, but their respective injuries were identified as cramp.
The players will assemble at All Blacks camp on Sunday where they will be assessed further.
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