Ennor’s midfield partnership with Tupaea excites coach Foster

• Published date: 06 November 2021

Since making his test debut in 2019, things haven’t gone according to plan for the 24-year-old. After losing time early in 2020 when Covid-19 halted the sporting world, Ennor suffered a further setback that September when he tore his ACL during the North v South exhibition match.

The injury required surgery and led to a lengthy stint on the sidelines, which ruled him out of playing any part of the All Blacks’ Tri-Nations campaign at the end of 2022.

He returned to rugby with the Crusaders in May but was again sidelined about a month later after suffering appendicitis.

It was a frustrating time in his young career, and one he said took a toll on him on a daily basis.

“I guess it’s something we all go through one way or another as rugby players. It’s part of the game. It was frustrating, especially because I had done my ACL in my other knee back in school, then I did the other one, and just as I’m getting back into it, my appendix ruptures on me.

“It’s just all about keeping a clear mind and focusing on where you want to end up. There were times where I felt pretty awful about myself — lost a lot of weight and that sort of thing, not being able to eat properly and all those sorts of things with my appendix. But I just kept my mind on where I wanted to end up and that was here with the All Blacks, so I’m pretty grateful at where I’ve ended up.”

Ultimately, it would be more than two years between tests for Ennor, who made his All Blacks return off the bench against Argentina in Brisbane in September, before starting in the side’s win over the United States a fortnight ago.

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