ABs prop Laulala back in action after injury
All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala will make his playing return for Counties Manukau after missing the last seven months due to further complications suffered after breaking his left arm.
The Chiefs tighthead sustained the injury in March during the second round of Super Rugby against the Blues.
Laulala has been named on the bench for Counties for tonight’s Mitre 10 Cup clash against Canterbury in Pukekohe and the 27-year-old is set to face fellow All Blacks prop Joe Moody, who is also coming back from a string of injuries suffered in the last year.
The Premiership encounter is potentially crucial for both provinces as Canterbury need a bonus point win to boost their faint hopes of hosting a home semifinal, while Counties might need a victory to avoid relegation if last-placed Taranaki beat Wellington in New Plymouth last night.
Moody’s latest problem was a broken thumb he sustained as the All Blacks thumped Australia 40-12 when retaining the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park in August.
Should Laulala and Moody take the field together at Navigation Home Stadium, the two good mates would directly clash in scrums during some valuable game time the pair need before the All Blacks travel to Tokyo for their upcoming northern hemisphere tour.
Laulala was expected to fully recover sooner but his return to play was delayed as complications with his recovery meant he was forced out for much longer than the eight to 12 weeks initially prescribed.
It will be Laulala’s first appearance for Counties after playing 43 times for Canterbury from 2011-15.
The All Blacks’ next match is against the Wallabies in Yokohama on October 27 ahead of tests against Japan, England, Ireland and Italy in November.
Laulala, who has played 13 tests since his debut in 2015, last year established himself as the first choice All Blacks tighthead following a season-ending injury to Owen Franks.
The former Crusaders prop is no stranger to injury after missing all of 2016 after tearing three ligaments in his right knee in the pre-season.
The arm injury he suffered as the Chiefs beat the Blues 27-21 in March meant team-mate Angus Ta’avao was propelled to starting tighthead during the Super Rugby campaign.
After not having a Super Rugby contract at the beginning of the season, Ta’avao took his chance and started the next 15 games in a row for the Chiefs before the Taranaki prop earned his first All Blacks call-up in August after Moody’s thumb injury.
He made his test debut off the bench in the 35-17 victory against Argentina in Buenos Aires last month as the All Blacks retained the Rugby Championship.