(L to R) All Blacks Patrick Tuipulotu, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Cam Roigard.
Photo: Photosport
Halfback Cam Roigard and midfield back Timoci Tavatavanawai have been ruled out of both All Blacks home tests against the Springboks, as the status of several players on lengthy injury breaks became clear.
Roigard won’t recover in time from a stress fracture in his right foot, which still has an estimated recovery time of three to four weeks, leaving a cloud over New Zealand’s stocks at the base of the scrum for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match at Eden Park.
Noah Hotham remains out for a similar period with an ankle complaint, while Cortez Ratima is continuing to be assessed for availability after sustaining a rib fracture during the loss to the Pumas in Buenos Aires.
It leaves veteran Finlay Christie and Kyle Preston – who joined the squad in Argentina as injury cover – as potentially the only two available halfbacks.
The All Blacks’ selectors have taken no chances on the key position, calling in uncapped Chiefs scrum-half Xavier Roe as injury cover this week, along with Blues lock Sam Darry.
Tavatavanawai will miss the remainder of the Rugby Championship – and most probably the rest of the year – after fracturing a bone in his forearm while playing an NPC match for Tasman against Otago on Saturday.
Timoci Tavatavanawai charges forward.
Photo: Masanori Udagawa
The injury has been given a 12-week rehabilitation window, meaning the 27-year-old Highlander almost certainly won’t get a chance this year to add to his two maiden test appearances against France in July.
All Blacks management also updated the status of several other All Blacks.
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu has had surgery for a facial fracture but his return is still about a month away, resulting in the recall of Darry, who earned six caps in his maiden campaign last year.
Two players – Blues winger Caleb Clarke (ankle) and Chiefs flanker Luke Jacobson (thigh) have both been ruled out of this week’s test in Auckland, but have been deemed available for the second Springboks clash in Wellington a week later.
Blues wing Caleb Clarke.
Photo: Photosport
Five of the players called to Argentina as injury cover have remained with the squad – Preston, Christie, Tevita Mafileo, Josh Lord, and Leroy Carter.
The only injury cover not retained is George Bower, following a return to fitness of prop Tamaiti Williams.
In some good news for the All Blacks, top season performers – midfield back Anton Lienert-Brown (concussion) and prop Tyrel Lomax (hand fracture) – have recovered and rejoined the squad in Auckland.