Anton Lienert-Brown to miss the All Blacks opening tests of the year

The All Blacks midfield has suffered another blow ahead of their opening tests of 2021 with Anton Lienert-Brown to be sidelined for the tests against Fiji and Tonga.

The Chiefs star underwent successful minor elbow surgery on Friday with the All Blacks confirming on social media on Saturday that Lienert-Brown would “miss several weeks of rugby”.

The 26-year-old will miss the opening test of the year, against Tonga at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium on July 3, and the following week’s clash against Fiji in Dunedin.

He could however be available for their third tests on July 17 clash against Fiji in Hamilton before the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup tests.

This is a further blow for coach Ian Foster who is without Jack Goodhue (ACL injury) and Ngani Laumape (leaving to France) for the tests against the two Pacific Island nations.