Ireland has received a boost with the news that New Zealand will also be without some of their top players when the two sides face of during the upcoming summer tour.
Assistant coach Wayne Smith Fullback has revealed that Mils Muliaina, centre Richard Kahui and lock Tom Donnelly have all been struggling with injury and are unlikely to be fit in time for the one-off test on 12 June in New Plymouth.
“I wouldn’t pick any of them personally,†Smith told members of the media today (Friday).
The trio had been named in New Zealand’s 26-man squad at the weekend. However, doubts about whether they would be fit in time for the clash saw backs Ben Smith and Rene Ranger as well as lock Sam Whitelock drafted in as cover.
According to reports on RTE Sport, Kahui is believed to be the closest to a return out of the three but Smith revealed that he is not yet back to full training.
