Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta have been ruled out of the All Blacks’ two-Test tour of South Africa due to calf injuries, but there is better news for Ethan de Groot and Luke Jacobson.
Lock Tuipulotu and fullback Perofeta missed the two recent Tests against Argentina due to their injuries, with Josh Lord and Harry Plummer their respective replacements for the trip to play the Boks in Johannesburg a week on Sunday and Cape Town a week later.
Prop de Groot (neck), and loose forward Jacobson (hamstring), missed last weekend’s demolition of Argentina at Eden Park but have been named in the 36-man touring squad. The squad flies out for South Africa on Friday.
The All Blacks have also been boosted by the return of Scott Barrett (finger) after the skipper missed both Tests against the Pumas. Head coach Scott Robertson signalled Barrett’s imminent return a day after the recent Test.
Barrett, badly missed during his side's defeat in Wellington recently, will likely partner Tupou Vaa’i in the second row in Johannesburg but Sam Darry, who has impressed in the last three Tests after making his debut against Fiji in San Diego, will also be pushing for a start.
Tamaiti Williams may also push de Groot for the starting loosehead spot after helping the All Black pack dominate the Pumas' scrum at Eden Park.
World champions South Africa lead the Rugby Championship after winning both Tests against the Wallabies in Australia recently.
The 36-man squad travelling to South Africa is:
Hookers: Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington), Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury), George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury).
Props: Ethan De Groot (Highlanders / Southland), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman), Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury), Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland), Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Locks: Scott Barrett (Crusaders / Taranaki) (captain), Sam Darry (Blues / Canterbury), Josh Lord (Chiefs / Taranaki), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)
Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders / Tasman), Sam Cane (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty), Samipeni Finau (Chiefs / Waikato), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato), Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau), Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika / Wellington) (vice captain), Wallace Sititi (Chiefs / North Harbour)
Halfbacks: Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Tasman), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington), Cortez Ratima (Chiefs / Waikato)
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)
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Midfielders: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes / Taranaki) (vice captain), David Havili (Crusaders / Tasman), Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato), Billy Proctor (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland), Will Jordan (Crusaders / Tasman), Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington), Harry Plummer (Blues/Auckland), Sevu Reece (Crusaders / Southland), Mark Tele’a (Blues / North Harbour)
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