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EDINBURGH - Halfback Andy Ellis has joined Andrew Hore in barely featuring in the All Blacks' end-of-year rugby tour, a new rib injury typifying a season that has steadily deteriorated since the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney.
Ellis, who had a knee injury when he was chosen as
the third halfback, was heading home today after a rib cartilage was displaced during the All Blacks 32-6 defeat of Scotland last night.
The blow was unrelated to a similar injury he suffered against the Wallabies in July but the disappointment was just as keenly felt by Ellis, who has already had to watch from the sideline this season as Jimmy Cowan and then Piri Weepu superseded him.
Weepu's Wellington teammate Alby Mathewson has been summoned as a replacement.
He is due to join the tourists in Dublin tomorrow (NZT) ahead of the test against Ireland on Sunday morning.
Assistant coach Steve Hansen said it was decided Ellis, who played 20 minutes off the bench at Murrayfield, could realistically have no further involvement on the tour.
"Unfortunately for Andy he has a new rib injury, a displaced rib cartilage," Hansen said.
"It makes him a high risk for future injury and we're not prepared to allow that to happen."
Ellis' season has steadily degenerated since he was handed the starting halfback's role for the tests against Ireland and England in June.
He held his place for the All Blacks' opening Bledisloe Cup loss to Australia but was injured when hit in a double tackle.
That rib injury ruled him out of the remainder of the Tri-Nations campaign and his comeback through Canterbury at provincial level was then jeopardised by a medial ligament strain sustained during the title-winners' quarterfinal against Tasman.
He missed the final win over Wellington and was thought to have been in serious doubt until the tour party was named on October 26.
Mathewson is the logical replacement, particularly given Auckland's Taniela Moa has undergone post-season surgery.
The prognosis was more optimistic for the All Blacks' other casualty from a rugged encounter with the Scots, makeshift fullback Isaia Toeava.
He left the field at halftime after being kneed in the shoulder-neck area but recovered steadily after the match and will be available for selection against the Irish.
However, a bench spot is the best the utility can hope for after Hansen indicated Mils Muliaina would be immediately pressed into service following his return from parental leave.
Muliaina was given permission to stay with his wife and newborn baby when the team departed for the Hong Kong Bledisloe Cup test but arrived in London today, linking up with his teammates as they transited enroute to Dublin.
The team's most experienced back has only played a solitary provincial game for Waikato since the Tri-Nations decider at Brisbane on September 13 but Hansen had no hesitation in nominating the 66-cap veteran to run on to Croke Park on Sunday.
"He's landed safely, he's fit and we're excited to have him," Hansen said, explaining the 29-year-old would slot straight back in despite a lack of game time.
"He's one of the best fullbacks in the world, if not the best - there's no point bringing him over to have a holiday."
Muliaina's return will be among a raft of personnel changes revealed on Tuesday when the 22-man squad to face Ireland is announced.
Daniel Carter, who played halfback off the bench last night, is expected to return along with first-choice backs Conrad Smith and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Joe Rokocoko also showed enough form against the Scots to suggest he may back up from his first test in 13 months.
Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino and Tony Woodcock will also be restored although lock Ali Williams' workload may be regulated before the tests against Wales and England.
Hansen said Anthony Boric's performance - despite being sinbinned - against Scotland gave the selectors assurance he was a capable replacement for Williams, who may be named on the bench - as McCaw and Carter were at Murrayfield.
"There's a lot of confidence in being able to use AB (Boric), not just off the bench but also starting," Hansen said.
"We've given Brad a rest and we have to make sure Ali's not overworked as well."
In Hansen's eyes, Boric, nine tests into his debut season, had been one of the finds of the year.
"AB played as good as I've seen him play for the All Blacks (against Scotland)," he said.
"He's developing all the time. He's a talented rugby player, he's got a great work ethic and he thrives on opportunities.
"A lot of people would have been second guessing why we picked him. But we've had him on the radar for a couple of years, we like what he's been doing."
- NZPA
