The All Blacks squad preparing for their Test match against France in Wellington has received an unfortunate late disruption. Winger Caleb Clarke has been ruled out of the highly anticipated fixture after sustaining an injury during a training session.
Clarke reportedly suffered an ankle ligament sprain. The medical prognosis indicates a recovery period of two to four weeks, which effectively brings a premature end to his involvement in the mid-year international test series.
The timing of the injury is particularly frustrating, occurring just one day before the match is scheduled to take place. This sudden setback necessitated a swift change to the matchday squad composition.
In response to Clarke`s unavailability, Emoni Narawa has been called into the squad as a direct replacement. Narawa will now potentially feature in the Test against France, which is set to kick off on July 12th in Wellington.
Such last-minute injuries are a stark reminder of the physical demands of elite rugby and can test the adaptability of even the most seasoned coaching teams. For Clarke, it`s a disappointing end to his current Test campaign; for Narawa, an unexpected opportunity.
Percy Harlow