Game over for Gibbes

New Zealand lock Jono Gibbes will leave the touring squad on Sunday after failing to recover from a torn calf muscle.

Gibbes sustained the injury in the build-up to New Zealand’s victory over Italy last week, and the All Blacks medical staff today conceded he will not be fit in time for next weekend’s Test against France in Paris.

“I made really good progress the first five days after it happened, and the medical team was really confident about making the French game. But this week it hasn’t really progressed – it’s been very frustrating,” said Gibbes.

“The advice was it was going to be 50-50 whether it would be right for France, but there was no point trying to load up and re-injure it again.”

Gibbes will return to Rome as a holidaymaker – while Reuben Thorne, flown in as a replacement and included among the replacements for tomorrow’s Test against Wales in Cardiff, remains with the squad.

Gibbes was extremely effective as a blindside flanker against England in the summer series, but New Zealand head coach Graham Henry had hoped to give him a run in the second row on this tour.

“It’s a pity because we brought Jono over here to develop him further as a lock and we see that as his role in the future at international level,” said Henry.

“His calf-muscle injury is disappointing for us and for him. But he’s a top man and he’s added a huge amount on this tour just with his personality, and helping out here and there with his attitude, which is always extremely upbeat.”