Blackadder injured his arm in Queensland game while Papalii had his appendix removed
Ethan Blackadder of the Crusaders leaves the field of play with a suspected broken wrist during the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final match against the Queensland Reds at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch. Photograph: Joe Allison/Getty ImagesEthan Blackadder looks set to miss New Zealand’s three-Test series against Ireland next month due to a shoulder injury, while his fellow loose forward Dalton Papalii is in doubt after having his appendix removed.
“He’s unlikely to be involved for the rest of the season for us, and hopefully it’s not an operation that’s required,” Robertson said. “He will definitely have scans. It was pretty sore, as you can see. He’s holding it up.” Papalii, meanwhile, was a late cry off from the Auckland Blues’ Super Rugby victory over the Otago Highlanders at Eden Park on Saturday.
Papalii captained the Blues to top spot in the Super Rugby regular season standings this season, prompting calls for the 24-year-old to be first choice at openside flanker for the All Blacks ahead of captain Sam Cane.