All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick is in doubt for the first test against France, after suffering an injury during the Chiefs’ Super Rugby loss to the Crusaders on Saturday.
Retallick was replaced at halftime, after suffering a shoulder injury in a collision.
Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE, Chiefs coach Colin Cooper revealed their medical assessment of him led them to believe he would miss the first test and perhaps the entire series.
"It’s a serious pec injury and probably unlikely for him to play in the first, but obviously the All Black medical [team] will look at that and confirm that.
"It happened in the tackle when he trying to pull over a player for us to try and get a turnover.
"He’s a tough man, but for him to come off at halftime, it was bit of a concern and that’s what my medical are telling me - unlikely to go this week."
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson’s told RadioLIVE that Luke Romano had been called into the All Blacks squad as cover.
New Zealand captain for the series, Sam Whitelock is currently nursing a head injury, but Robertson's confident he will be good to go for the first test.
"He was close to playing for us on Saturday night," he said.
"I’m confident and obviously it’s back over to the All Black management, but he should be available for the first test."
Newshub.
