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The Rugby Championship

All Blacks confirm two absentees from South Africa tour squad

Stephen Perofeta of the All Blacks makes a break. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

The All Blacks will once more be without the services of Stephen Perofeta and Patrick Tuipulotu for their two upcoming Tests against the world champions in South Africa.

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Rounds three and four of The Rugby Championship see the Kiwis travel deep into the heart of Springbok rugby with Tests at Emirates Airline Park (previously Ellis Park Stadium) and Capetown’s DHL Stadium against the famous rivals.

Unfortunately for head coach Scott Robertson, two of his starters from the opening Tests of the year against England will miss the tour as they both nurse calf injuries that have kept them out of New Zealand’s three contests since.

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Patrick Tuipulotu has been replaced by Josh Lord in the 36-man travelling squad while Stephen Perofeta’s absence has made way for fellow 2024 Super Rugby Pacific champion Harry Plummer.

Despite playing career-best rugby in the No. 10 jersey in 2024, Plummer has been named as an outside back in the team’s official travelling squad, named on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old offers plenty of versatility with a large chunk of his Super Rugby experience coming in the midfield. He is the only uncapped player of the 36 players travelling to South Africa over the coming days.

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Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury)
George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury)

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Props
Ethan De Groot (Highlanders / Southland)
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman)
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland)
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Locks
Scott Barrett (Crusaders / Taranaki) (Captain)
Sam Darry (Blues / Canterbury)
Josh Lord (Chiefs / Taranaki)
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)

Loose Forwards
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders / Tasman)
Sam Cane (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs / Waikato)
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato)
Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika / Wellington) (Vice Captain)
Wallace Sititi (Chiefs / North Harbour)

Halfbacks
Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Tasman)
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (Chiefs / Waikato)

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First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)

Mid-fielders
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes / Taranaki) (Vice Captain)
David Havili (Crusaders / Tasman)
Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Outside backs
Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland)
Will Jordan (Crusaders / Tasman)
Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Harry Plummer (Blues/Auckland)
Sevu Reece (Crusaders / Southland)
Mark Tele’a (Blues / North Harbour)

UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY: Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), Stephen Perofeta (calf).

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Comments on RugbyPass

S
SS 7 minutes ago
Ex-Ireland legend slam players' 'showboating' against the All Blacks

Yes, probably why he still annoys me even now

4 Go to comments
G
GS 19 minutes ago
Why Finn Russell 'edges' Marcus Smith in race for the Lions 10 shirt

"Edges" it? Really? Marcus Smith is a great stand off, but he isn't fit to lace Russell's boots. That is no slur on Smith, but in every aspect of the game, Russell is better. Put it this way, if Russell was English they would have beaten the All Blacks and Australia comfortably.

2 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 30 minutes ago
Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something

Graham, if you cant celebrate the wins whats the point of playing the game? I think most would have happily taken 3 from 4 on this tour and winning would be icing but losing just 1 test is still Cake. Its been a season of lost opportunity no matter the result. 3 tests and no real gains from a experience for the newbies perspective. I do get that winning is everything but a few more squad members getting bigger minutes would have been great. Either way, providing the B side doesnt lose to Italy it will be a OK year.

5 Go to comments
B
BH 37 minutes ago
Four changes for France as Galthie names team to host All Blacks

No mention of Matthieu Jalibert refusing to play against New Zealand because he would've been on the reserves list. What a sooky cry baby. That is utterly embarrassing and shows he has a poor, selfish attitude.

4 Go to comments
B
BH 38 minutes ago
Argentina's Felipe Contepomi dimisses All Blacks' win over Ireland

Poor headline to be honest. Makes it look like Contemponi is disrespecting New Zealand, which he clearly is not. He does the opposite.

3 Go to comments
O
Otagoman II 41 minutes ago
Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

In regards to the obstruction empahsis on kicking, the receiving team has to clear a path to where the ball is going that one of their team is going to take. If the kicking team member runs into another player that will not mean they gain a penalty unless a direct path to the receiver is blocked.


I suspect the change was brought about to make this aspect of the game safer as chasers will not be bumped into creating a dangerous fall for the player leaping. A good example of this was the red card for a French player against the ABs a few years back. He clattered into B Barrett taking his legs from out under him and landing on his neck/head. Upon review for the citing committee they agreed that ALB had checked the French player causing him to go off course and take Barrett out. No suspension resulted and the red card rescinded. The metric to judge the worth of this change is to see if dangerous falls lessen or not.


Thanks for the article.

8 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 42 minutes ago
Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

DM should start and have the game decided by the starting 15. I can just see everyone blaming Dmac and Ratima because they come on with 15 to go and cant make up the 2 try deficit they face. Dmac needs to leave. Make the coin whilst he is in his prime.

8 Go to comments
S
SM 1 hour ago
Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

BB should be back and he should play the 80,Dmac reminds me of the story about the emperor having no clothes on how he got player of the day ahead of Jordan or J Barrett must be for not losing or maybe coal kicking 🤔

8 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

The English biggest problem is that whole board. They need to change it, because all they've shown is how incapable they are of running a business which ultimately it is.


The players they choose for the team isn't even the best players in England. There is better players out there just as you suggested and I've said in one of my responses.


This was a well written no nonsense article. An eye opener. Let's hope they read your articles. There is a lot they can learn from someone like you. Just don't dare leave my Bulls as a coach. 2 URC Finals and no cigar. You'd better give those boys gas when they screw up. We want that URC title this year👍

8 Go to comments
L
LRB 1 hour ago
Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Love the username, fu¢king brilliant.! 😁

12 Go to comments
O
OJohn 1 hour ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

The Tahs are like that. I wouldn't describe Rennie as honorable. He betrayed his own country after all.

144 Go to comments
G
GL 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

Hope BB can survive the French defense and that Abs don't many tricky, corner kicks which BB will not make

8 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

I think last weeks team was stronger except for Taylor. Bench was also stronger combo wise. How DeGroot has gone from best at WC last year, to not in side without even playing this tour, is astounding and Savea hasnt played 7 regularly since Cane became Captain in 2020.

12 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Australia's Brett Robinson elected new chairman of World Rugby

Id enjoy seeing a break-a-way but could not see that being the reason. Maybe LIV rugby LOL.

11 Go to comments
A
Ardy 2 hours ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I have concerns about Tom Wright at FB but only in his D. He seems to be out of position often. I haven't looked at his stats but he appears to be making only a few tackles.

144 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Australia's Brett Robinson elected new chairman of World Rugby

I wouldnt miss mauls. Legal blocking. You cant even stand your ground anymore when a kick is put up but mauls allow 7 men to block the defenders in a maul.

11 Go to comments
N
NH 2 hours ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I don't think there was any duping Nick, it was simply a case of 'hamish knows best' and what he says goes. With all the dust settled, what worries me is that many that allowed him to make that decision and the sacking of marinos are still on the board or in the chair (Herbert and waugh). Can we say they have the integrity to do the right thing when it comes down to it?

144 Go to comments
N
NH 2 hours ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I think the omission of skelton and kerevi probably has two parts to it. 1) Everyone talks about the level of detail Schmidt coaches at, so i assume kinda like under rennie it takes the players 3-4 weeks before they're across everything and the coach is happy with their level of understanding. 2) Schmidt seems big on combos and cohesion, so I think he is a little reluctant to bring guys in who are only going to play a game or two but then might not be available down the track... This is the same reason why on the flipside JAS was maybe brought in so early, to try and build that combo as much as possible before the lions. Regardless, I think we will get to see both skelton and kerevi in gold before the tour is finished (otherwise why bring them in at all?), but he better do it soon. Are they available for the last game(s)?

144 Go to comments
N
NH 2 hours ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

No need to have nella go for 70 like bell because we have a handy replacement in AAA. Boks props do their 40 and off.

144 Go to comments
A
Another 2 hours ago
Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something

The Blues strategy - ongoing pick and drive - isn't what the All Blacks team is currently employing. They haven't changed their tactics, they have just strengthened the personnel - especially from the bench. Players returning from injury - Jordan Tuipolutu, Roigard have changed the form of the team.

5 Go to comments
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