All Blacks fly in reinforcement to Mendoza
INJURY UPDATE: All Black coach Ian Foster revealed that two injury replacements will travel to Argentina for next weekend’s Test in Mendoza.
Injury has ruled out backs Will Jordan and Leicester Fainga’anuku from their opening Rugby Championship Test against Argentina.
The pair will not fly to Mendoza for the Test against the Pumas on July 8, with Fainga’anuku nursing a calf injury and Jordan managing what medical staff called a “migrainous condition”.
Both players started in last week’s Super Rugby Pacific Final for the champions, the Crusaders.
Chiefs outside back Shaun Stevenson and Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafile’o will fly out with the 36-man squad on Sunday as replacements.
Foster said Jordan’s omission was precautionary after the speedy fullback spent seven months on the sidelines recovering from an inner ear problem that causes vertigo.
The 25-year-old, who has scored 21 tries from 21 Tests, impressed with his form for the Crusaders when he returned to the field in May.
“Will has been going really well, but in order to make sure he keeps tracking that way, we’ve decided to withdraw him from the long-haul trip to Argentina,” Foster said.
“This is more of a precautionary measure that we’ve put in place with the bigger picture of 2023 in mind.”
Fainga’anuku was Super Rugby Pacific’s leading try-scorer this season, with 13.
Travelling squad
Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Tevita Mafile’o, Brodie Retallick, Josh Lord, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (captain), Samipeni Finau, Shannon Frizell.
Backs: Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson, Mark Telea.
