Tuipulotu injury blow for the Blues and All Blacks
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Blues and All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu is likely to be ruled of the three-Test June Series against France with a shoulder injury.
The 16-times capped international suffered the injury in the 36-15 loss to the Hurricanes in Auckland last week and will be sidelined for the Blues' two Super Rugby games before the international break as well as the three Test series which kicks off at Eden Park on June 9.
“He’s had an unlucky streak of injuries,” Rieko Ioane told the New Zealand Herald.
“They’re the niggly ones which sit him out for a month and then he plays for a couple of weeks and then he gets another one, so it’s been tough on him.
“The form that he’s been in – we’re going to miss that. He’s been a powerhouse for us all year.
“He’s been into our new boys about the expectations that are needed – they’ll have big shoes to fill but I’m sure they’ll do the job.”
Flanker Jerome Kaino added: “He calls our lineouts and has a lot of input into our forwards and team stuff. I’ve definitely seen the growth in him and he’ll definitely be missed on the field.”
Tana Umaga's side are also without the services of Josh Goodhue for Saturday's clash against the Crusaders due to concussion, the Blues are set to start an untested lock combination of Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, and Ben Nee-Nee.
