Overview
- New Zealand confirmed that Ponga suffered a fractured left radius and was scheduled for immediate surgery following the loss to Australia.
- Ponga picked up the injury during a tackle on Cameron Munster and played on for about 17–20 minutes before scoring and then being replaced by Keano Kini in Thursday night’s match.
- Team doctor Greg Macleod said Ponga will remain in the Kiwis’ camp and left open a remote possibility of a return pending recovery and further assessment.
- Typical bone-healing timelines of one to two months make Ponga’s participation in the rest of the tournament unlikely and give New Zealand the option to request a medical replacement to their squad.
- Ponga’s switch to New Zealand and his role as Newcastle captain made him central to the Kiwis’ hopes, so his injury reshapes selection and game plans for upcoming fixtures against the Cook Islands and Fiji.