NZ's Ponga back on bench - three weeks after breaking arm — SkimNews
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- Kalyn Ponga is named on New Zealand's bench for the World Cup semi-final against Tonga, three weeks after breaking his forearm during the opening loss to Australia on 15 October
- Phoenix Crossland returns from a four-match ban for the hip-drop tackle that caused Nathan Cleary’s compound fracture and dislocation, ruling Cleary out of the World Cup
- Stacey Jones promoted Ponga to the 19-man matchday squad and indicated Crossland would be included, maintaining hope Ponga could feature in the final if New Zealand advances
- Tonga field an unchanged lineup for the semi-final, having topped Group B-C with a 20-18 win over Samoa and previously eliminated England with a 30-12 victory
- Australia face Samoa in the other men's semi-final with an unchanged lineup, Reece Walsh retaining the full-back spot over James Tedesco
- Samoa bring in Ronald Volkman at stand-off for the semi-final after Chanel Harris-Tavita was ruled out with a hamstring injury
Why it matters: New Zealand’s inclusion of Ponga and Crossland shifts squad dynamics at a critical stage—Ponga’s return offers attacking depth just weeks post-injury, while Crossland’s availability reintroduces a controversial but key player, directly impacting team strategy in a high-stakes semi-final against a Tonga side that has already proven they can beat the Kiwis.
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