Blues pain with Kaino and Piutau
SIR JOHN Kirwan could be without Jerome Kaino and Charles Piutau for the rest of the season after the two All Blacks were injured in the comfortable win over the Force on Saturday.
Kaino endured a horrendous compound fracture to his ring finger that saw the bone pop out of the skin. He could be sidelined for up to two months.
It is also suspected Piutau may have gone down with another medial ligament complaint – the same injury he suffered to the same left knee this time last year. It put him out of action for two months.
It could be cruel body blow to Piutau’s World Cup hopes, with the tournament just over four months away. And having signed a $2 million, two-year deal with Irish club Ulster next year, his place in the national team was already in jeopardy. Now he faces the prospect of not being able to push past Ben Smith, Julian Savea, Cory Jane and Israel Dagg and convince All Blacks selectors he deserves to retain his spot.
‘‘It’s similar to last year against the Chiefs. He can’t feel anything so we’ll have to get him scanned. It could be a wee while,’’ Kirwan said after his men ran in five tries to claim a bonus point in the 41-24 win over the Force at Eden Park. ‘‘He’s hoping for the best.’’
While Kaino’s injury sounds worse, he is likely to recover before Piutau. His bone was forced from the skin after it was caught in Nick Cumming’s jersey. The Force wing went one way, Kaino the other, and the end result was not pretty.
‘‘The bone came out of the skin but from what the doctors have been saying it looks a lot worse than what it is,’’ Kaino said, his arm in a sling as blood wept from his stitches. ‘‘Worst case scenario they say eight weeks. Best case scenario I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.
‘‘I wasn’t nauseous. I was thinking how to get it back in place and if it was going to hurt. It was a bit numb to start off with but when the doctor started trying to wiggle it back in place that’s when the pain started coming. It’s the first time I’ve done something like this. I’ll hope for the best when the X-rays come through tomorrow.’’
The Blues will be forced to solider on over the last five games of the season without Kaino and Piutau, two of their leaders. Not ideal for a team that’s now won two of their 11 games and lacking experience.
‘‘ He’s made his decision with what he’s doing in the future but he’s really sparked us whenever he’s had the ball,’’ Kaino said of Piutau. ‘‘Hopefully he’s back a lot quicker.’’
Kirwan was comforted by the form of impressive blindside Akira Ioane. The 19-year-old again produced superb touches which included a try from a 50- metre burst and some powerful fends. Unfortunately for the Blues, they are likely to lose Ioane to the New Zealand under-20s team in a few weeks, but already he appears a star of the future.
First five-eighth Daniel Bowden, who came off with hip stiffness, is another injury concern.
Kirwan, meanwhile, shied away from commenting about his future at the franchise amid speculation he is attempting to recruit Crusaders assistant coach Tabai Matson next year.
‘‘I’m not going to get involved in that,’’ he said. ‘‘ I trust Michael [Redman] as the CEO and I trust the board process. I’ve done what I need to do and I’m going to wait for the process to take its course.’’
(Melani Nanai 2, Steven Luatua, Akira Ioane, Ihaia West tries, Daniel Bowden pen, 2 con, West con, pen, Lolagi Visinia con) (Pek Cowan, Matt Hodgson, Ryan Louwrens, Ben McCalman tries, Luke Burton 3 con). 17-0