Ruben Love ruled out for the year with ankle ligament injury
- All Blacks fly-half Ruben Love has been ruled out for the remainder of the year after sustaining an ankle ligament injury in South Africa, according to an All...
- The extent of the injury was confirmed in an official All Blacks statement, which read: Ruben Love will undergo surgery after sustaining an ankle ligament injury, ruling him...
- Sky Sport NZ’s Breakdown first revealed the severity of the setback.
All Blacks fly-half Ruben Love has been ruled out for the remainder of the year after sustaining an ankle ligament injury in South Africa, according to an All Blacks statement.
Ruben Love Undergoes Surgery for Ankle Ligament Injury Sustained in South Africa
The extent of the injury was confirmed in an official All Blacks statement, which read: Ruben Love will undergo surgery after sustaining an ankle ligament injury, ruling him out for the remainder of the year.
The team added: Wishing Ruben all the best with his surgery and recovery.
Sky Sport NZ’s Breakdown first revealed the severity of the setback. Show host Kirsty Stanaway announced on the program: Massive news for the All Blacks, we can reveal exclusively on the Breakdown that our All Blacks first-five, the man that has worn the number 10 jersey for the majority of the Tests this year, Ruben Love sustained an ankle injury in South Africa.
Stanaway added: He needs surgery and he will be out for the remainder of the year. So, no more All Black Rugby in that 10 jersey for Ruben Love. Devastating news for him and such a shame considering it’s his time.
Rugby Figures React to the Breakout Playmaker’s Sidelining
Former All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden expressed deep sympathy for his successor’s sudden absence from the squad. Cruden stated: I am devastated for Rube, because he earned it through the way that he played and conducted himself through Super Rugby. What a test to go and challenge yourself against the world champions over in South Africa. So yeah, I think all of us are just thinking of Ruben right now, hoping that he recovers really quickly, but it’s a good chance for him now to go and reflect on what a year it’s been.
Legendary winger Jeff Wilson pointed out that the injury interrupts critical development following Love’s starring role in leading the Hurricanes to their first Super Rugby Pacific title in 10 years. Wilson noted: It’s a shame though because he’s a player who’s had a number of injuries over his career to date already and just when he’s starting to build his confidence in the jersey, the way he’s played all season, he led the Hurricanes to a title and for me, this is devastating for him because he was making so many gains. The experience he was getting, now he’s going to have to wait longer.
Wilson further remarked: He’s almost got to get himself back into this type of form again, and that’s not going to be easy.
Former All Blacks prop John Afoa highlighted the timing just ahead of the World Cup year. Afoa stated: Well, that’s it. He was up there in South Africa against the world’s best and he would have come back for the Tests against Australia and he would have cashed in and really found some real confidence and then going into the World Cup year. So I’m sure he’ll be disappointed but he’s the kind of kid that still feels like he’s young enough to bounce back with a smile on his face.
Squad Adjustments for the Bledisloe Cup and Nations Championship
With Love unavailable, head coach Dave Rennie has named Richie Mo’unga and Josh Jacomb in the squad for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup Test matches against Australia. Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett were selected among the outside backs and represent alternative options to wear the number 10 jersey during the remaining end-of-year Nations Champions fixtures.
He was up there in South Africa against the world’s best and he would have come back for the Tests against Australia and he would have cashed in and really found some real confidence and then going into the World Cup year.
John Afoa