New Zealand have decided to keep Kalyn Ponga in their World Cup camp as the fullback prepares to undergo surgery on a broken radius in his left arm.
Ponga sustained the injury during the second half of a 24-22 defeat. He managed to play through the pain before departing in the 70th minute.
Team doctor Greg Macleod expressed optimism regarding Ponga recovering in time to feature again later in the tournament. The 28-year-old is key to New Zealand’s campaign to claim their first World Cup title since 2008.
Coach Stacey Jones said that Ponga struggled toward the end of his long-awaited Test debut for the Kiwis and could not catch the ball due to the discomfort.
Ponga finished the match with two tries, 253 metres gained from 16 runs, three line breaks and five tackle breaks. Keano Kini replaced him late in the fixture, walking off to the sidelines with his arm in a sling.
Jones said that Ponga stayed upbeat despite the setback and was keen to stay involved with the squad. Kini is expected to step into the starting lineup for the upcoming pool match against the Cook Islands in Christchurch.
If team management rule Ponga out for the remainder of the tournament, New Zealand hold the option to request clearance for a squad replacement. The Kiwis also face Fiji later in the group stage.
Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris praised the fullback’s resilience after the match, saying that Ponga carried immense pride in the jersey and refused to let his teammates down.
Jones admitted that his side lacked the necessary polish to convert territory into points against Australia, conceding tries from interceptions and kicks. The coach stated that the players were hurting after the narrow defeat but would bounce back.
