Jordie out, Lienert-Brown in for All Black’s RWC opener against France
Narawa ruled out of the World Cup with a back injury

Jordie out, Lienert-Brown in for All Black’s RWC opener against France

Narawa ruled out of the World Cup with a back injury

By Alipate Narawa
Thursday 07/09/2023
Emoni Narawa Photo:NZ Herald

Influential All Blacks midfielder Jordie Barrett has failed to prove his fitness for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup opener against France, with Anton Lienert-Brown coming into the midfield to replace the regular starting No 12.

Barrett has been battling a knee injury all week ahead of the Pool A clash against the tournament hosts and was unable to shake it off in time to make the much-anticipated clash.

The 52-test powerhouse back has been a regular in the All Blacks midfield alongside Rieko Ioane. They have played all but one of the New Zealanders’ tests in tandem in 2023.

But Lienert-Brown, at his second World Cup, is a more than capable replacement against the powerful French lineup, and brings plenty of experience into the No 12 spot for what should be a high-octane clash at a sold-out Stade de France.

Ian Foster has chosen his strongest possible lineup for the tournament opener, though he has had to make do without three regular starters in lock Brodie Retallick (knee), loose forward Shannon Frizell (hamstring) and prop Tyrel Lomax (cut knee) who are all on the injured list, and expected back soon.

All told there are just three changes from the XV that started the final warmup clash against South Africa at Twickenham, with veteran Nepo Laulala replacing Lomax at tighthead, Codie Taylor resuming at hooker for Dane Coles and Dalton Papalii replacing Luke Jacobson at No 6.

There are also five tweaks to the bench where Samisoni Taukei’aho and Tupou Vaa’i are the only survivors from London.

Chiefs and Waikato loose forward Jacobson was a little unlucky to make way for Papalii on the blindside after he played just 39 minutes at Twickenham, while the Crusaders pairing of Scott Barrett and veteran Sam Whitelock, who will play his 147th test, run out in the second row in Retallick’s absence.

The All Blacks also announced that wing Emoni Narawa has been ruled out of the World Cup with a back injury.

All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Dalton Papalii, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tuungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku.

Source: Stuff.co

Rugby World Cup - Bronze and Grand Final

DateTimeTeamTeam
Bronze Final -
Sat 28 OctFull TimeArgentina23 - 26England
Grand Final -
Sun 29 OctFull TimeNew Zealand11 - 12South Africa
Click here for full fixtures

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Parents pushing children to go out and sell drugs – Father Sigarara
A qualified psychologist has raised concerns on how our society, that professes to be Christian, have become so cold that even parents and adults are ...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Residents from Lami to Nausori likely to face water cuts due to water turbidity
Thousands of residents living in areas between Lami to Nausori are likely to face water cuts due to a steady increase in raw water turbidity levels ...
29 minutes ago

18 people undergoing treatment after bus collides with 4x4 vehicle in Lautoka
18 people are currently being treated at the Lautoka Hospital after a Goundar Shipping bus collided with a 4x4 vehicle this afternoon. Police have ...
60 minutes ago

Barriers to digital finance leave vulnerable Fijians struggling
Vulnerable groups across Fiji—including elderly villagers, low-income families and rural communities face significant obstacles in accessing ...
1 hour ago

Education Ministry investigates alleged grant misuse and workplace harassment at Ba school
The Ministry of Education is investigating allegations of misuse of the Free Education Grant and workplace harassment at a primary school in Ba, ...
1 hour ago

Bureau of Stats completes Employment and Unemployment Survey, report expected mid 2025
The Fiji Bureau of Statistics has completed its Employment and Unemployment Survey last month, wrapping up a data collection activity that took a ...
1 hour ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
5 days ago

Continuous Radiology and Pharmacy services are now expected at Government Hospitals
Serious concerns are being raised by the public as the Ministry of Health has decided that radiology services and pharmacies at Government hospitals ...
5 days ago

Ratu Wiliame Katonivere declines Presidential nomination after an internal audit and investigation report
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term ...
6 days ago

TOP