Bill Tupou takes Krisnan Inu’s place in New Zealand squad: Gillette Four Nations
New Zealand has named winger, Bill Tupou, on Wednesday, October 12, to their Gillette Four Nations Series squad that is about the start later this month. He will also play in Sunday’s one-off Test against Kangaroos just ahead of the Four Nation campaign.
He is a replacement for New Zealand Warriors, Krisnan Inu, who will not be available for the Four Nations because of his personal reasons. The player flew in from Auckland last night to join in with the Kiwis at the Sydney hotel.
With the 21-year-old’s uptake, the selection count for the New Zealand’s squad has gone up to 22. The player will join in with his remaining club-mates which includes Kevin Locke, Lewis Brown, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino and Elijah Taylor.
There were three more club players, Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Johnson and Inu, who have been written off after their selection was confirmed. Thomas Leuluai will also join the Kiwi squad on their arrival to England next week.
New Zealand will leave Sydney for Newcastle to prepare for Sunday’s Test against Australia at Ausgrid Stadium.
The team’s coaches are on a hiring spree just ahead of the Four Nations campaign in the land down under. Therefore, for this mega event of the year, there are new uptakes every other day, especially from more popular, Super Rugby League teams which is seen
as a major cause of concern by the latter.
Kangaroos have also recently called up Canterbury Bulldogs’ centre, Josh Morris, who is a replacement of Dave Taylor, who sustained an injury.
There is an ambiguity about, Greg Inglis, who might not be able to take his on-field role. So in case, the prop fails to take up his position, Michael Jennings, will replace him for the Four Nations campaign.
According to Inglis' doctor, who performed knee surgery on the player, Inglis is in perfect condition to take part in the Four Nations but his coach, Tim Sheens, is still apprehensive of his taking part in games so early. His replacement has been found so
that injury problems do not plague the squad.
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