The Chiefs will be without centre Anton Lienert-Brown for the rest of the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific season after a collarbone injury.
Lienent-Brown came off during half-time during their convincing win over the Western Force at the Bay Oval.
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It was the centre’s first game back in the starting side since Round Four, recently returning from a leg injury.
The 30-year-old was spotted after the game in a sling and confirmed via social media that he was out for the remainder of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a broken collarbone.
“Footy doesn’t always love you back, such is life,” Lienert-Brown said via social media.
“Surgery & then a speedy recovery on way.”
Daniel Rona and Gideon Wrampling are the likely candidates to replace the All Black, with Rona starting the majority of games at outside centre during Lienert-Brown’s initial injury.
It adds to the Chiefs’ growing injury list, with fellow midfielder Rameka Poihipi ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie also missed the win over the Force, with the Waikato Times reporting he will likely also miss this week’s match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Chiefs currently sit top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, tied on points with the Crusaders.
The two teams will face off next week, with McKenzie likely back for that match-up.
Meanwhile, Blues winger Mark Tele’a will miss the next three weeks after he was red-carded for a dangerous tackle on Reds’ winger Tim Ryan in their 35-21 defeat.
The Foul Play Review Committee determined the low-range entry point of six weeks/matches was appropriate for the incident, with Tele’a offered the full 50% discount.
It means the All Blacks flyer will miss games against the Western Force, Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika.
