Hopes are high that Scott Barrett will be fit to face the world champion Springboks in the Tests in Johannesburg on August 31 and Cape Town the following week, which are likely to decide who wins the southern hemisphere championship.
Lock Josh Lord and utility back Harry Plummer will remain in the All Black squad for the Rugby Championship tour of South Africa, with Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta still sidelined by injury.
Plummer and Lord were called up to the New Zealand squad as injury cover for the two Tests against Argentina on home soil, after lock Tuipulotu and fullback Perofeta both suffered calf injuries.
Lord ended up playing off the bench in both matches against the Pumas, a loss in Wellington and a win in Auckland, because of a finger injury to skipper Scott Barrett.
NEWS: Calf injuries will prevent Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta from travelling to South Africa
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— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 21, 2024
Hopes are high that Barrett will be fit to face the world champion Springboks in the Tests in Johannesburg on August 31 and Cape Town the following week, which are likely to decide who wins the southern hemisphere championship.
Loose forward Luke Jacobson and loosehead prop Ethan de Groot will both travel despite struggling with hamstring and neck injuries, respectively.
Plummer, who can cover flyhalf and fullback, is one of two uncapped players in the squad along with outside back Ruben Love.
All Black coach Scott Robertson said about Barrett after the win over Argentina at Eden Park: “He’ll strap the pinky up and go at it. He’s important. He’s a big body, and that’s what you need over there (SA).”
80 in 80 | Before there was Forsyth Barr, there was Carrisbrook 🏟️
Throwin' it back 25 years vs the Springboks#AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/oqG3Ikj0mX
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 22, 2024
He is looking forward to locking horns with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.
“We made sure we talked about what we did well last week. There’s seven debutantes coming away to South Africa who haven’t played against South African teams or been away, so there’s a bit of excitement there.
“I know Rassie, I played against him. I enjoy his commentary and its different angles … Everyone loves a press conference with him. I’m looking forward to locking horns. The one thing Rassie and South Africa have done extremely well is they’ve built depth over that four-year cycle. He lost a few chess matches in there, but he blooded some great young players. That gave them the depth that was required.
“The (Springbok) World Cup squad was so hard to pick, so they left some great players out, and that’s where you need to get to.”
Reuters, Staff Writer
All Black squad
Props: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell
Locks: Scott Barrett (captain), Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
Scrumhalves: Noah Hotham, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima
Flyhalves: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Centres: Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor
Wings: Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a
Fullbacks: Ruben Love, Harry Plummer
