Leon MacDonald has been ruled out of the All Black side for the Bledisloe Cup test against Australia this weekend, after initially being included in the Starting XV yesterday.
MacDonald has had to withdraw from Saturday’s Tri-Nations and Bledisloe cup test at Eden Park in Auckland because of head problems that have continued to dog him since he took a knock to the head in the loss to the Springboks in Dunedin back on July 12.
Ongoing concussion symptoms have resulted in the All Black management deciding to withdraw MacDonald although an announcement on his replacement is not expected until tomorrow.
The New Zealand team doctor Deb Robinson said MacDonald suffered a blow to the head during the 28-30 loss to South Africa.
According to Robinson MacDonald has continued showing signs of fatigue at team meetings and during training, indicating that he was still feeling the effects of the blow.
MacDonald who wasn’t in the team for last weekends test against Australia, but the reason for that absence also included, recovering from knee and elbow injuries.
MacDonald was included in the original All Black starting team announced yesterday, forcing Mils Muliaina to the wing and Anthony Tuitavake out of the team.
It remains to be seen if that forced change will be reversed after MacDonald’s exclusion
The selectors may restore that combination or could consider naming Rudi Wulf on the wing.
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This could just be another little thing adding to the probability of the Aussies beating them in NZ as well.
I think you meant to say not IN team there Oubaas… 😆
This is not good though…we need New Zealand to try and force a draw here… 😎
@blackshark (Comment 2) :
You get the day’s prize for spotting the deliberate mistake 😉
There seems to real concern for his career. According to rugby365 he is even unlikely to make the trip to SA.