Another injury hinders Chiefs
Already struggling to take a trick, the news has got even worse for the Chiefs, with Anton Lienert-Brown ruled out of tomorrow’s Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Hurricanes.
The star midfielder will miss the crucial round four contest at FMG Stadium Waikato due to a mystery concussion, seemingly picked up in last Sunday’s defeat to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
‘‘We’ve gone back and looked at it, and he just said he can’t remember in the game where he’s got a knock,’’ coach Warren Gatland said yesterday.
‘‘He was fine after the game. He just came in on Tuesday and had a bit of a headache, so asked for some Panadol. So we just said ‘look, let’s test him on the HIA’, and he failed his HIA 3 [the final stage of the three-step concussion testing process, done 36-48 hours post-impact].
‘‘There’s no pressure from us, and it’s making sure that we just take precautions.
‘‘Players can fail their HIA even when they haven’t had knocks. But we just wanted to make sure he was right, so we’re giving him a rest this week, and there’s a bye week next week.’’
Lienert-Brown’s absence is a major blow to the 0-3 Chiefs who have had several injury struggles post-Covid, and who are at must-win territory with five games to play in this round-robin competition.
The 43-test All Black has been a constant 80-minute presence at second five-eighth, and without the 25-year-old’s hard running lines, defensive dependability, and just his general experience and game smarts, it piles even more heat on the Hamilton hosts if they are to keep their campaign alive.
Gatland’s new-look midfield will see impressive rookie Quinn Tupaea move in a spot to wear No 12 and face the not-so-small task of marking the wrecking ball that is Ngani Laumape, while Tumua Manu – who played from the bench last weekend – will start at centre, with Alex Nankivell still yet to earn selection post-lockdown.
The rest of the starting side is the same as the one which lost 18-13 to the Crusaders, with Etene NanaiSeturo retaining his place on the left wing after being a late inclusion for a sick Solomon Alaimalo, who will start from the bench.
There are three other changes to the reserves.