All Blacks: Joe Moody out of England test after suffering gruesome eye injury

All Blacks prop Joe Moody will miss the remainder of the northern tour, after suffering a gruesome eye injury in training.

He tore his eyelid vertically, when a rogue hand accidentally hit him during lineout training, requiring three layers of stitches.

The 30-year-old was seen with a bandage over his left eye during a training session on Wednesday and there was serious bruising from the apparent cut on Thursday.

Coach Steve Hansen confirmed Moody would be out for six weeks and Angus Ta'avao had been called into the squad as his replacement.

Joe Moody with coach Steve Hansen and a All Blacks doctor.
Joe Moody with coach Steve Hansen and a All Blacks doctor. Photo credit: Getty

He's been preferred to Tim Perry because of his ability to play both sides of the scrum.

"Joe Moody has found a way to get himself injured in unusual fashion this year," Hansen said. "Anyone else, it would probably have missed his eye.

"Plastic surgeon has recommended the six weeks and as our doctor described it, your eyelid is your window washer and if you've got half of it missing, you can't wipe your eye, so it will impact your eyesight long-term.

"We need to make sure he is okay."

Despite the injury, he still participated in an event at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.

Loosehead Moody has had an injury-ravaged season, which began with him rehabbing from shoulder surgery. When he made his club rugby return, he suffered a severe finger injury, followed by a knee injury and then a broken thumb sustained during the All Blacks' 40-12 win over the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup in August.

Somewhere in between, he also sat out a two-game Super Rugby suspension.

The All Blacks will confirm their team for the test against England at Twickenham at 5pm Thursday.

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