News

Moa called in for Ellis

August 08 2008

Auckland and Blues scrum-half Taniela Moa will join the All Blacks squad in South Africa as a replacement for Andy Ellis who has aggravated his rib injury.

Moa is set to play for Auckland against Taranaki in the Air New Zealand Cup on Sunday before flying to Cape Town next week.

Scrum-halves Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu are already part of the All Blacks 26-man travelling squad.

A team spokesman said on Friday that Ellis' ribs, first injured during the Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Sydney two weeks ago, were aggravated in training this week.

The 10-times capped All Black was ruled out of selection after medical assessment when the team assembled on Thursday night.

Coach Graham Henry said that both Ellis and Cowan were "in good shape". Both were injured in the defeat to the Wallabies in Sydney on July 26.

Ellis missed the return Test in Auckland, but Cowan overcame his knee injury to start and produce a star performance.