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Concussion symptoms bring a cloud of doubt over Beauden Barrett and Vaea Fifita as the All Blacks‘ third and final test against France looms.
The Hurricanes pair will not travel to Dunedin with the All Blacks squad, after both leaving the pitch in their side’s 26-13 win in Wellington on Saturday night with head knocks.
Barrett managed just 12 minutes of action last night. He left the game after coming down awkwardly after being contested in the air by French fullback Benajmin Fall. Barrett was unable to return after failing his head injury assessment, and Fall was subsequently red-carded for his challenge.
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Head coach Steve Hansen said his team is looking to establish more depth this year so will weigh up risk versus reward regarding selection for the third Test in Dunedin.
Reserve hooker Nathan Harris has also been ruled out of the third test. As previously announced, he will head home for the birth of his first child, while loose forward Liam Squire is in doubt with a shoulder injury.
Squire has only recently recovered from a broken thumb that has kept him out of eight games during the Super Rugby season.
Hurricanes hooker Ricky Riccitelli and Highlanders utility forward Jackson Hemopo have joined the squad as cover.
UPDATE: Hurricanes hooker Ricky Riccitelli will join All Blacks as cover with Nathan Harris heading home for birth of first child … 1/2
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 17, 2018
2/2 UPDATE: @beaudenbarrett & @VaeaFifita are suffering from concussion and will not travel with team to Dunedin … Liam Squire has shoulder injury so Highlanders lock & loose forward Jackson Hemopo has been called in as cover.
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 17, 2018
23-year-old Riccitelli and 24-year-old Hemopo have both previously represented New Zealand at the Under 20 level, but haven’t yet been part of the All Blacks set-up.
Hemopo’s Highlanders teammate Tom Franklin was previously called in as cover for Brodie Retallick.
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