Late injury blow for All Blacks
TEAM UPDATE: The All Blacks have suffered a massive setback hours before the Nations Championship opener against France at One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch.
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been withdrawn from the match-day 23 due to a tight calf.
Jamie Hannah will come onto the bench to replace Tuipulotu and prepare to make his All Blacks debut.
Hannah’s progression has been a standout for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
The 23-year-old lock was born in London and raised in Oxford, North Canterbury. He was selected for the NZ U18 Barbarians side in Year 12 out of the Christchurch Boys’ High School first XV and then earned selection to the NZ Schools team in 2020 and the New Zealand U20 squad in 2022. He was called into the All Blacks XV side last year and named as an injury replacement in this year’s All Blacks squad.
New Zealand – revised: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (Captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Peter Lakai, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Fehi Fineanganofo.
*Also read: New Zealand v France PREVIEW
