All Blacks loose forward Sam Cane leaves the field against Ireland. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan / www.photosport.nz
All Blacks v France
Kick-off: 9.10am Sunday, 17 November
Stade de France, Paris
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Former skipper Sam Cane is an injury doubt for the All Blacks ahead of their test against France this weekend in Paris, but coach Scott Robertson is confident Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor will be fit to play in Paris.
Openside flanker Cane suffered a deep wound to his head which required several stitches in the 23-13 win over Ireland and will have to go through the head injury (HIA) protocols if he is to play at Stade de France on Sunday.
Robertson has also suffered a further depletion to his already thin stocks of forwards after lock Sam Darry went down with a knee injury in training and returned to New Zealand.
Loose forwards Dalton Papali'i, Luke Jacobson and Ethan Blackadder all remained in New Zealand to recover from injuries and none has been confirmed as heading over to Europe to rejoin the squad.
Sam Cane required several stitches during the test against Ireland. Photo: Supplied: Instagram
Cane, who will retire from test rugby after the tour, was a late injury withdrawal because of a back injury when the All Blacks last played France in the opening match of last year's World Cup, losing 27-13.
For that match, Papali'i moved over from the other side of the back row to replace Cane with lock Tupou Vaa'i starting at blindside flanker - a creative use of resources Robertson may now need to emulate for Saturday's clash.
First five Barrett and hooker Taylor missed the Ireland clash after suffering head knocks in the 24-22 win over England that opened the tour but look set to successfully come through the HIA process.
Their recovery will leave Robertson with a positive dilemma when choosing his team for Paris after their replacements, first-five Damian McKenzie and hooker Asafo Aumua, both had strong outings against the Irish.
The successful start to New Zealand's tour will see them move up to second place in the world rankings behind South Africa with Ireland dropping from the top spot to third ahead of France.
- Reuters
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