On the sidelines of the announcement of the XV which will face France at the opening of the tournament this Friday at the Stade de France, the coach of the All Blacks revealed Emoni Narawa’s package for the World Cup.
“It’s terribly sad” lamented Foster at the Créteil Music Conservatory. “He had just recovered from back pain after the match against Argentina (in July, New Zealand’s 41-12 victory, editor’s note). He felt better, he was training really well and he worked incredibly hard, but on Monday, at the end of training, he got injured.
The Waikato Chiefs winger, 24, suffers from a strained intervertebral disc and will return to New Zealand. “After Friday’s game, we will plan his replacement,” explained Foster. “Maybe it will be a third line. We’ll see how things evolve with Brodie Retallick and Shannon Frizell this weekend.
New Zealand must in fact be without second row Retallick, injured in the knee, and third wing Frizell, injured in the hamstrings, for the start of the World Cup. The date of their return to competition has not yet been scheduled.
The All Blacks have also recorded the package for the opening match against France center Jordie Barrett, replaced by the experienced Anton Lienert Brown. After France on Friday, the Blacks will face Namibia in Toulouse (September 15), Italy in Lyon (September 29) and Uruguay still in Lyon (October 5), as part of group A.
