Afoa doubt for Wallabies clash

Published: Sunday, 31. July, 2011 in category Northern Hemishere
Afoa: Broken cheekbone

The Blues tighthead only lasted six minutes on the pitch after replacing Ben Franks in Saturday's 40-7 win over South Africa.

And All Blacks coach Graham Henry doesn't hold high hopes for his front-rower to be fit for this weekend's Test against the Wallabies at Eden Park.

"The reports are not as good as I thought they were going to be. He doesn't look as positive as we thought it was last night," he said.

A surgeon has yet to look at scans of the injury so there was still some doubt over the extent of the fracture for the 32-Test prop - who will join Ulster after the World Cup.

With Tony Woodcock set for some much-needed game time in the ITM Cup for North Harbour on Tuesday, Henry said it's likely they would bring another prop into the squad to assist with training with Wellington prop Neemia Tialata and North Harbour's Ben Afeaki possible back-up options.

"'It wouldn't be a player we would bring in to play in the Test, I wouldn't have thought - someone who can help us with training."