The Chiefs’ title run will have to take place without the services of in-form All Black, Anton Lienert-Brown.
The 30-year-old took to social media late Monday to address fans directly, revealing a broken collarbone will sideline him for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season. He also shared an image of his X-ray, which painted a gruesome picture of the injury.
The 81-Test All Black exited Friday’s 34-point drubbing of the Western Force at halftime, having played through the pain to see out the period.
The expected recovery timeline for a broken collarbone is 6-12 weeks, which also casts doubt over his potential involvement in the All Blacks‘ series against France in July.
An Instagram post read: “BRB – Footy doesn’t always love you back, such is life. Surgery & then a speedy recovery on way.”
Current Chiefs and All Blacks teammates were quick to share their support in the comments, and were joined by former All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and Kevin Mealamu.
The X-ray shows a clear break in the collarbone, as well as showing two pins already in the international star’s shoulder, presumably from his 2022 labrum surgery that took Lienert-Brown out of the game for six months.
This news happens to coincide with a 1News report stating Lienert-Brown will be taking up the sabbatical option in his New Zealand Rugby contract in 2026, joining former Chiefs coach Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan.
His prolonged absence is sure to offer Chiefs youngsters like Gideon Wrampling and Daniel Rona a crack at developing with consistent minutes. However, with fellow midfielder Rameka Poihipi already sidelined with a long-term injury, the Chiefs may look to sign some additional midfield depth to see out the rest of the season.
All Black Emoni Narawa spent some time in the No. 13 jersey for Bay of Plenty in the recent NPC season, and with the impending return of Etene Nanai-Seturo from a hamstring injury suffered in round one, there’s a chance Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan could explore the option of moving his two-Test All Black infield.
At the international level, Linert-Brown’s potential absence from the opening All Blacks campaign of the year could open the door for another of the in-form midfielders in Super Rugby Pacific, or even the returning Leicester Fainga’anuku, depending on when he is released from his duties with Toulon.
Elsewhere in the Chiefs squad, Wallace Sititi made an impressive return to action off the bench in the round 11 win, while Damian McKenzie is set to be rested one more week as he recovers from a hand injury.
