All Blacks loosehead prop Ethan de Groot finds himself sidelined from this weekend’s clash with England in London after a breach of team protocols.
According to the Otago Daily Times, De Groot has been omitted from the All Blacks’ matchday squad, with head coach Scott Robertson confirming the decision was based solely on a failure to meet internal team standards, rather than any on-field issues.
“Ethan did not meet the team’s internal standards,” Robertson explained. When pressed for further details, he reiterated, “Just the internal standards. He did not meet that in general, so he is not available to play this week.”
While the specifics of De Groot’s breach remain undisclosed, the All Blacks have made it clear that he remains eligible for next weekend’s showdown against Ireland in Dublin.
Stepping up in De Groot’s absence, Tamaiti Williams has been named to start at loosehead, with Ofa Tu’ungafasi providing cover on the bench.
De Groot has held the starting loosehead position for much of the season, with six Test appearances, including both clashes with England in July.
His recent exclusion echoes a similar disciplinary action last year when All Blacks wing Mark Tele’a was benched for the World Cup quarter-final against Ireland due to a protocol violation. Tele’a went on to regain his place in the starting lineup for the semi-final and final.
Photo: EPA/Neil Hall
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
