All Blacks suffer second row setback ahead of Rugby Champs finale
INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand have been forced to rejig their starting XV on the eve of the final round of the Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks take on Wallabies with both teams in the running to lift the trophy.
All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa’i has been ruled out of the second Bledisloe Cup and final Rugby Championship match in Perth on Saturday.
Vaa’i took a knock to his right knee at training on Thursday. He will have his injury assessed by a specialist on return to New Zealand next week.
Fabian Holland will take Vaa’i’s place in the starting side for Saturday with Patrick Tuipolotu providing cover off the bench.
New Zealand – revised: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett (vice-Captain), 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Ardie Savea (vice-Captain), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Ruben Love.
Date: Saturday, October 4
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18.05 (22.05 NZST; 10.05 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)