Damian McKenzie adds to growing All Blacks injury toll
Nine top players are in a fight against time to be ready for the World Cup
Wellington — The All Blacks go into their first pre-World Cup camp on Monday hampered by a rising injury toll and expecting more casualties before they begin their title defence in Japan in September. Damian McKenzie is the latest to be sidelined after limping off with knee damage during Saturday’s bruising Super Rugby derby between the Chiefs and Blues. The utility back joins at least nine other All Blacks on an injury list headed by Sonny Bill Williams and Owen Franks, who were both members of the successful New Zealand sides that won the last two World Cups in 2011 and 2015. The Chiefs were reluctant to speculate on the extent of McKenzie’s injury but said in a brief statement that he would be having an MRI scan and will be assessed further in the coming days. His fellow All Blacks Brodie Retallick and Nathan Harris also took severe knocks in the Chiefs’ 33-29 victory but their injuries were said to be not serious. World Cup years add an extra urgency to the high-stakes New Zeala...
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