Rugby: Tests delayed as Ellis clears head

Andy Ellis is still suffering from dizziness and nausea. Photo / Getty Images

World Cup-bound halfback Andy Ellis continues to make a gradual recovery from a sickening collision which left him with no recollection of Canterbury's rugby win over Otago last Saturday.

Ellis is still suffering from dizziness and nausea after being floored by Otago centre Brett Mather during the last play of Canterbury's 27-7 Air NZ Cup victory in Dunedin.

Standard psychometric tests are yet to be carried out on the two-test All Black, who was a surprise inclusion in the 30-man squad for France at the expense of Wellington's Piri Weepu.

He was meant to undergo tests on Monday but All Blacks medical staff postponed them until his recovery advances.

Once he was symptom-free Ellis would resume light training and undergo the impact test, possibly when the All Blacks assembled for a camp in Auckland next week, All Blacks management said in a statement today.

Mather was last night suspended for one week by the New Zealand Rugby Union judicial committee after being cited for a dangerous tackle.

All Blacks prop Neemia Tialata took nearly two weeks to return to light training after being knocked unconscious by a punch from Hawke's Bay prop Clint Newland.

Tialata passed a psychometric test and trained this week.

- NZPA