More trouble for the All Blacks as injuries mount up

THE Lions are in an unusual and pleasant position in that they have suffered just one injury withdrawal from the 41-strong squad Warren Gatland selected for the tour of New Zealand.

There had been fears, as happened ahead of previous assignments, the best of British and Irish rugby would lose a number of star names who were playing in end of season European and domestic finals.

But only Champions Cup winner Billy Vunipola, who has an on-going shoulder problem, failed to board the flight to New Zealand with third-choice scrum-half Ben Youngs having withdrawn due to the wife of his brother Tom Youngs, the 2013 Lions hooker, suffering from terminal cancer and understandably wanting to spend time with his family.

The Lions have adequate cover for the loss of England and Saracens’ back-row battering ram Vunipola, with heavy artillery in Taulupe Faletau, his Wales colleague Ross Moriarty and Ireland’s CJ Stander.

So, while the Lions have a virtual clean bill of health, the same can’t be said of New Zealand with seven of their main men, including greats Kieran Read, Dane Coles and Beauden Barrett, among those currently giving Kiwi coach Steve Hansen cause for concern with the opening Test less than a month away. Here’s the All Blacks’ injury report Ben Smith The All Blacks full-back or wing superstar had been out of action for three weeks due to an ankle injury but returned to skipper the Highlanders to a 44-28 Super Rugby victory over New South Wales Waratahs in Dunedin at the weekend. Israel Dagg The 61-times capped runner came through his first Super Rugby appearance since injuring his right knee on March 11 as the Crusaders made it 13 successes in as many Super Rugby fixtures this year by roaring to a 41-19 bonus point victory over Aussie franchise Rebels in Melbourne. Ryan Crotty Crusaders’ centre Crotty sat out the win over the Rebels after being concussed in the previous round but took some part in training on Monday as they prepare for next Saturday’s blockbuster in Christchurch against a Highlanders team on an unbeaten run of nine games. But he will have to pass a number of tests before being cleared to return to action. Sonny Bill Williams Made a late start to the Super Rugby campaign because of the ruptured Achilles he suffered on sevens duty last year, missed more game-time with a concussion and was struggling for form until recently. Now the midfielder has picked up a worrying knee injury, having to be replaced during the Auckland-based Blues 16-16 draw with the Chiefs at Eden Park last Friday night. Beauden Barrett The world player of the year was pulled from Hurricanes’ 34-20 Super Rugby victory over the Bulls in Pretoria after suffering from headaches. Outside-half play-maker Barrett had taken a knock to the head during the win over the Cheetahs in New Zealand the previous last weekend but had passed a half-time concussion test. However, after arriving in South Africa for the match with the Bulls, he started suffering from headaches with medics unsure whether they were due to the blow he took against the Cheetahs or because of another reason. Dane Coles Hurricanes captain Coles is the world’s best hooker by some distance, being accurate at the set-piece and brilliant in the loose, but has been sidelined since March 18 due to a head injury, which took time to diagnose, and there hasn’t been any sign of him returning to action. Jerome Kaino New Zealand’s equivalent to Richard Hill, the Lions great and England’s World Cup winner, in the back-row with two world titles to his name but had knee surgery weeks ago and is touch and go to be fit to face the Lions in the opening Test at Auckland’s Eden Park on June 24. Kieran Read The All Blacks’ inspirational skipper and No.8 catalyst broke a thumb while on duty for the Crusaders against South African out-fit Cheetahs in Bloemfontein five weeks ago. Former world player of the year Read had only recently returned to action following wrist surgery when he went back under the knife for an operation on his damaged thumb and is another racing against the clock to be fit for the big face-off with the Lions. Ardie Savea The brother of the ‘bus’, All Blacks’ try-machine Julian Savea, made a huge impact in the back-row during last year’s Tests and there’s been a clamour for him to start at No.7 instead of Richie McCaw’s successor Sam Cane in the Tests with the Lions. However, Ardie Savea, who terrorised Wales last June, literally hit the deck when he was felled against the Bulls last weekend while attempting to make a tackle and has to pass concussion protocols before being allowed to return to playing.