 The loss of Joe Rokocoko would be a huge blow |
Winger Joe Rokocoko has become the latest member of the New Zealand squad to contract gastric flu. Rokocoko sat out training on Wednesday after suffering from the nausea and diarrhoea that has afflicted nearly half the team.
Justin Marshall, Daniel Carter, Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu, Mils Muliaina and Carlos Spencer have also been hit.
"Rokocoko has elected to stay home in bed but we are hoping he will be back tomorrow," said doctor Graham Paterson.
Carter, who missed training on Tuesday, was back on Wednesday and is expected to start against South Africa on Saturday, with Sam Tuitupou on the bench.
Paterson said he had no idea what had caused the outbreak, but the All Blacks were grateful it struck early in the week.
"We've instituted a strict regime of hand washing and we're confident of beating this bug," said Paterson.
New Zealand: Muliaina; Howlett, Umaga (capt), Carter, Rokocoko, Spencer, Marshall; Rush, Holah, Collins, Maling, Jack, Somerville, Mealamu, Meeuws.
Replacements: Hore, Woodcock, Williams, Newby, Kelleher, Evans, Tuitupou.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 