All Blacks captain fit for tour of South Africa

NEWS: New Zealand captain Scott Barrett will return from injury for their Rugby Championship matches in South Africa, the All Blacks said Sunday, but the team has fitness concerns elsewhere.

Barrett missed Saturday’s thumping 42-10 win over Argentina in Auckland and last weekend’s shock defeat to the Pumas in Wellington with a finger injury, but All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said the lock is fit to tour South Africa.

“He’ll strap the pinky up and go at it,” Robertson told reporters in Auckland.

“Look, he’s important. He’s a big body and that is what you need over there. It’ll be good to have him back on the field.”

The All Blacks face the Springboks in Johannesburg, then Cape Town, in back-to-back championship games on August 31 and September 7.

Robertson was less certain about the fitness of lock Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), loose forward Luke Jacobson (hamstring) and prop Ethan de Groot (neck), who are all carrying knocks.

“We’ll make a call by Wednesday who is traveling to South Africa,” the All Blacks boss added.

Robertson described the two-Test tour as an “awesome challenge” against a South African side coming off two bonus-point wins over the Wallabies in Australia.

The Johannesburg match between New Zealand and South Africa will be the first time the teams have met since the Springboks beat the All Blacks 12-11 in the World Cup final last October in Paris.

“We get a wee break, get excited about the next challenge,” said Robertson.

“These Test tours don’t come around that often, especially the Jo’burg, Cape Town combo.

“It’s always good to get on tour, with a bit of an old school feel around it.”

Robertson was buoyed by the vast improvement of his side who scored five unanswered first-half tries against the Pumas to open up a 35-3 lead in Auckland.

Argentina next host Australia in two Tests and coach Felipe Contepomi conceded his team is still searching for consistency.

It was the third time in five years they’d upset New Zealand, only to lose heavily in the return match shortly afterward.

“There’s frustration because we knew what was coming, we knew they were going to be direct, physical and the collision was going to be there,” Contepomi said.

“But unfortunately again we weren’t good enough the following weekend after beating the All Blacks.

“It’s a tough, rocky road but hopefully we’ll get there.”