0
Chiefs winger Sitiveni Sivivatu has been ruled out of next week's Super 14 final against the Bulls with a dislocated left shoulder and could miss the international season.
The All Blacks winger suffered the injury during the second half of the Chiefs' 14-10 victory over the Hurricanes on Friday and was not included on Sunday in the New Zealand side's 24-man squad that will leave for Pretoria early on Monday.
Chiefs coach Ian Foster later told Television New Zealand that Sivivatu was expected to see a surgeon and could be out for up to six months, missing the All Blacks' international season, which begins on June 13 against France in Dunedin.
All Blacks centre Richard Kahui, who missed the semifinal with a calf injury, was included in the squad and is to be monitored when the team arrives in South Africa.
Kahui has arguably been the in-form New Zealand centre of the competition and will provide not only an attacking option for the Chiefs but also a huge defensive presence in the midfield and Foster told TVNZ he expected him to play.
Rampaging number eight Sione Lauaki, who went off during the semi-final with a suspected neck injury, has also been included.
Squad:
Forwards - Sona Taumalolo, Joe Savage, Nathan White, James McGougan, Aled de Malmanche, Hika Elliot, Craig Clarke, Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Serge Lilo, Sione Lauaki.
Backs - Toby Morland, David Bason, Stephen Donald, Mike Delany, Callum Bruce, Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney, Jackson Willison, Sosene Anesi, Lelia Masaga, Mils Muliaina.
Sivivatu out of final
Reply With Quote
