England vs New Zealand: Joe Moody out after splitting eyelid in training

The remarkable rise of All Blacks prop Karl Tu’inukuafe will continue when he starts against England at Twickenham. It is just eight months since he made his debut in Super Rugby and four years ago he was a 27st nightclub bouncer in Auckland told by doctors to lose weight or risk a heart attack.

Tu’inukuafe gets his chance after a freak injury to first-choice loosehead Joe Moody. He split his eyelid at training on Tuesday and has been ruled out of the remainder of New Zealand’s tour.

“Joe Moody has found a way to get himself injured in unusual fashion this year,” coach Steve Hansen said. “Anyone else it would probably have missed his eye. [The] plastic surgeon has recommended six weeks and as our doctor described it, your eyelid is your window washer so if you’ve got half of it missing... it will impact your eyesight long term, so we need to make sure he is OK.”

Tu’inukuafe, 25, is the second-heaviest All Black ever at around 135kg (35kg lighter than he has been) after Neemia Tialata and made his debut earlier this year against France. He was only playing Super Rugby for Chiefs because of a series of injuries, but has taken his chance. He was an impressive schoolboy prop (alongside Nepo Laulala, who is on the bench) then drifted away from the game, but took it back up when warned about the long-term threat to his health if he remained as heavy as he was.

Elsewhere, Hansen has opted for the back three that beat Australia in Japan recently, with ball-playing Damian McKenzie at full-back and Rieko Ioane and Ben Smith on the wings. Jack Goodhue has overcome glandular fever to take his place at outside centre, while Dane Coles returns as replacement hooker. Richie Mo’unga, the coming man at fly-half, is also on the bench.