In a crushing blow to the All Blacks, powerhouse lock Patrick Tuipulotu is flying back to New Zealand nursing a serious facial injury, throwing a wrench into their Rugby Championship ambitions. Tuipulotu, who stepped in as a substitute during the recent clash against Argentina, is now staring down a six-week recovery period following a facial fracture that requires surgical intervention.
The injury occurred late in the game which saw the All Blacks triumph 41-24 over Los Pumas. Despite finishing the match, Tuipulotu was later hospitalized as a precaution. His absence is notably ill-timed as it sidelines him for the upcoming high-stakes matches against the Springboks at Eden Park and Sky Stadium.
"Patty is unfortunate, he’s had a tough run. His value on and off the field, his lineout calling, is invaluable,"
lamented Scott Robertson, head coach of the All Blacks. Despite the setback, Robertson remains optimistic about his squad's depth and resilience.Further complicating matters for the All Blacks, centre Anton Lienert-Brown also sustained a head injury during the same match and is undergoing concussion protocols. His timeline for return remains uncertain, leaving a gap in the midfield that could see Quinn Tupaea or Timoci Tavatavanawai stepping up this weekend in Buenos Aires.
On a brighter note, Robertson shared some positive updates regarding the fitness of loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams and back-row Wallace Sititi. Both players are poised to make their comeback this weekend, having missed earlier games due to knee and ankle injuries respectively.
"The load on Tamaiti and the running metres for Wallace have been really critical... But they’re fit and healthy,"
Robertson commented, signaling a potential boost for the team as they navigate through their injury woes.As the All Blacks reassemble their lineup, the return of Williams and Sititi could not be more timely, offering some much-needed reinforcement as the team braces for its impending battles against their fiercest rivals, the Springboks.