The All Blacks have suffered a crucial blow ahead of their meeting with the Sharks, with Cam Roigard pulled from the 23-man squad.
The Hurricanes scrum-half, who started all three Nations Championship Tests last month and is in pole position to start the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tests as well, was named on the bench for New Zealand’s second match of the tour, but has withdrawn as a precautionary measure due to a tight calf.
Roigard’s withdrawal comes amid a growing injury crisis within the All Blacks camp on this tour of South Africa, with Billy Proctor and George Bell both returning home through injuries.
This isn’t the first time head coach Dave Rennie has been forced to alter his team on the eve of the game on this tour, either, with Wallace Sititi withdrawing at the 11th hour from their opener against the Stormers through illness. Anton Segner started in his place.
Cam Roigard out of Sharks showdown as Dave Rennie forced into reshuffle
Roigard’s calf issue now means Cortez Ratima comes onto the bench to take his place, with the Chiefs scrum-half backing up after starting against the Stormers on Friday night.
Elsewhere, the All Blacks are as previously advertised. Damian McKenzie starts at full-back, with Fehi Fineanganofo and Caleb Clarke on the wings. Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett start in the centres, with Ruben Love and Kyle Preston the half-back pairing.
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Wallace Sititi starts alongside captain Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaa’i in the back-row, with Sam Darry and Josh Lord named in the locks. Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua and Ethan de Groot start in the front-row.
Rennie has named debutants Bradley Slater and Semisi Ta’eiloa on the bench, alongside Ollie Norris, Pasilo Tosi, Ethan Blackadder, the aforementioned Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Emoni Narawa.
Updated All Blacks team to face the Sharks
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder, 20 Semisi Ta’eiloa, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa
Date: Tuesday, August 11
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 19:00 (local SAST), 18:00 (UK), 19:00 (France), 03:00 (12 August, AEST), 05:00 (12 August, New Zealand), 14:00 (Argentina), 02:00 (12 August, JST), 13:00 (EDT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU) and Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)