All Blacks flyer Emoni Narawa will take no part in this year’s Rugby World Cup in France after it was confirmed that he will fly home to New Zealand due to injury.
The 24-year-old was one of the Chiefs’ stars during their impressive Super Rugby Pacific campaign which ended in defeat in the final against the Crusaders in Hamilton in June.
He was called up to the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad and made a try-scoring Test debut in their 41-12 victory over Argentina but also sustained an injury in that match and has been sidelined ever since.
“Incredibly sad”
Despite that, Narawa was included in New Zealand’s 33-man squad for the World Cup and All Blacks head coach Ian Foster couldn’t hide his disappointment with the injury.
“[It’s] incredibly sad,” Foster told reporters. “In the Twickenham week, he ran his fastest time of the year, he was coming back.
“His preparation has been really good, trending right up. It’s obviously been a niggling back from the Argentinian Test.
“He was coming right, he trained really well.
“It was the last thing he did in a skill block. He jarred it; it turns out it’s the other side of the disc.
“It’s incredibly sad for him, he’s worked hard to get here and we’re excited about where he’s at.
“The best thing for him from here is to go and rehab at home. It’s not the nicest thing to do as a coach at the start, to tell someone they’re going home.
“He’s a popular part of this group, and I know he’ll do the right thing.”
Replacement to be named soon
Foster also revealed that a replacement for Narawa will be named after the All Blacks’ opener at the global showpiece against France on Friday.
New Zealand opted for a 19 forwards/14 backs split in their World Cup squad that included an expanded number of outside backs.
However, an injury to blindside flanker Shannon Frizell exposed that potential shortcoming and Dalton Papali’i, who is primarily an openside flanker will wear the number six jersey against France.
If the All Blacks decide on a like-for-like replacement for Narawa then Chiefs and North Harbour full-back Shaun Stevenson could get the nod to head out to France.
“We’ll weigh that up after Friday, just to see where we’re at,” Foster added. “We clearly have to make a change.”
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