Todd out of Bledisloe
Matt Todd has sustained a groin injury in training and has been ruled out of New Zealand’s Blerdisloe Cup Test with Australia in Brisbane tonight.
The Crusaders openside flanker will be replaced on the world champions’ replacements bench by Hurricanes tearaway Ardie Savea.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said Todd’s injury occurred when he changed direction during a training drill.
“He felt it go sore, so we took him out of training and it’s not recovered well enough for him to play,” he told the New Zealand Herald.
“We’ve got a guy who is 100 per cent fit (Savea), so we made a decision early so we know what we’re doing.”
Hansen believes Savea will be highly motivated when he gets a chance off the bench. “He’s had the disappointment of not being named, so he’s probably a little angry about that, I’m sure he’ll come out wanting to prove a point,” he added.
“He’s a good player and someone we have a lot of faith in. We were looking to give him a bit of a breather but that’s not possible now.
“He’s got a good skillset with the ball in hand, we just want him to be stronger over the ball and he’ll look to do that I think.” reward was a 49-21 win over Northland and safe passage into a battle for promotion to the premiership in a week’s time.
Stuck in the championship since relegation in 2014, the Lions will now host the championship decider against Bay of Plenty or Otago on Friday.
After two Jackson Garden-Bachop penalties had put Wellington 6-0 up, converted tries to wing Jordan Hyland and fullback Solomon Alaimalo gave Northland a deserved 14-6 lead. They weren’t doing anything flash or special, but they were definitely winning the physical battle.
It wasn’t until the last 10 minutes of the half that the Lions really got into gear. Again, it wasn’t by doing anything remarkable; just meeting Northland’s intensity.
A Thomas Umaga-Jensen try and a couple of Garden-Bachop kicks meant Wellington turned for the second spell 16-14 up. Making it a game of skill was clearly the Lions’ preference, but they weren’t going to enjoy that luxury without sacrificing their bodies a bit first.
It didn’t take long for physicality to have its reward. First centre Wes Goosen, then fullback Trent Renata - after wing Julian Savea scorched past Alaimalo - scored and 14-6 down was suddenly 30-14 up.
Once prop Tolu Fahamokioa barged over from close range, in the 58th minute, the result looked settled at 35-14. Wellington 49: (Wes Goosen 2, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Trent Renata, Tolu Fahamokioa, Regan Verney tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 pen, 5 con) Northland 21: (Jordan Hyland, Solomon Alaimalo, Sam Nock tries; Dan Hawkins 2 con, Peter Breen con). HT: 16-14.