New Zealand could be without the services of experienced second-row Sam Whitelock when they get their Rugby Championship campaign underway against Argentina in Mendoza on July 8.
After delivering a man-of-the-match performance for the Crusaders in their Super Rugby Pacific final win over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday, the 34-year-old did not participate in an All Blacks training session at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on Wednesday.
Prior to the Super Rugby Pacific final, Whitelock was sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury since the Crusaders’ Round 15 clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Defied doctor’s orders
According to Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson, Whitelock had defied doctor’s orders to play in the final as he risked aggravating the injury and also risked his chances of playing at the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster appeared frustrated over Whitelock’s situation.
“Obviously, he played during that recovery period, so we’ve just got to see how he transitions the next week or two,” Foster told Newshub.
“He made a decision based on all the medical advice he got, and – in many senses – rolled the dice and got through it, but he’s not right to train today, so we’ve just got to deal with what we’ve got now.”
Foster said the All Blacks medical staff will assess the 143-Test veteran over the next few days, but the indication from Whitelock is that the Achilles is still “pretty sore”.
Whitelock’s absence would be a setback for the All Blacks, who would like to get their Rugby Championship campaign off to a winning start in a tricky away clash against Los Pumas.
After missing the Crusaders’ quarter-final and semi-final victories over the Fijian Drua and the Blues, Whitelock admitted that he felt the effects of playing a full 80 minutes in a hard-fought encounter against the Chiefs.
“It was a little bit rough on the lungs, but I wanted to get out there and give it a go, and I got through,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafileo has been called up to the All Blacks squad as injury cover for Fletcher Newell, who’s “progressing well” in his return from toe surgery which ended his participation in Super Rugby Pacific after the opening round.
Mark Telea is also working his way back to full fitness from a calf strain , while fellow speedster Leicester Fainga’anuku is suffering from a tight calf.
That means Shaun Stevenson – who was included as injury cover for the Rugby Championship – will remain with the All Blacks’ squad and, along with Mafielo, could be part of the group to travel to Mendoza.
Foster also said there will be no replacement called up for Anton-Lienert-Brown, who will miss the entire Rugby Championship, due to a high-tackle suspension from the Super Rugby Pacific final.
Cautious approach to training
With most of the players in the squad coming from the Crusaders and Chiefs, who were involved in that bruising encounter in Hamilton at the weekend, Foster admitted that he took a cautious approach to training.
“There’s probably 40 percent of the team feeling fresh, but we’re used to that,” he said. “It’s a tough time transitioning from one campaign to the other.
“You’ve got to get everyone on the same page and used to a different language. People have to deal with the emotions of big finals, so it’s business as normal I guess, in that sense.
“We haven’t got a formula that says the finalists won’t play this week. I think we’re keen to build some combinations, but we’ve also got to tread that line between looking at what we’ve got this week and seeing where the energy levels are.”
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The article Sam Whitelock doubtful for All Blacks’ Rugby Championship opener against Argentina appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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