Shields risks missing ABs clash
Brad Shields no doubt has November 10 circled on his calendar. Right now it looks a long way off for the former Hurricanes skipper turned England rugby international.
England host the All Blacks at Twickenham on that date in what was once assumed would be a matchup of the hemisphere’s respective champions, but will now serve as an entree to the main event a week later at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin when Joe Schmidt’s Ireland host the world’s
No 1 side.
Nonetheless Eddie Jones’ England hosting Steve Hansen’s All Blacks less than a year from the World Cup is still a big deal, and right now looks a difficult proposition for Shields to make after suffering a fractured cheekbone in his Premiership debut for Wasps over the weekend.
Wasps confirmed their marquee England-eligible New Zealand signing had suffered a broken cheekbone in their 42-31 home loss to the Exeter Chiefs and could be out of action for up to eight weeks. He had been taken to hospital after a clash of heads with Exeter’s Stu Townsend saw him depart the field with blood streaming down his face. Shields made his England debut during their June series against South Africa and would have been desperate to face the All Blacks in what shapes as a massive test at Twickenham,
The club said the 27-year-old New Zealander was due to see a specialist today to determine whether surgery would be required on his fractured cheekbone.