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Peter Lakai called in as three All Blacks ruled out of clash with Japan

213 days ago

Peter Lakai of the Hurricanes charges towards the tryline to score during the round six Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on March 30, 2024, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

In what has come as a concerning blow for the All Blacks ahead of their trip to Japan and Europe, three players have been ruled out of the first Test through injury. Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali’i will not be available to travel with the squad.

Uncapped prospect Peter Lakai is now in the mix to debut for the All Blacks after being called into the squad for the Japan Test along with lock Josh Lord. Lakai was sensational for the Hurricanes during Super Rugby Pacific and that form carried into the NPC with Wellington.

But, this news does come as another blow for Blackadder, whose absence from the Test arena will extend into a fourth Test. Blackadder was one of the best on ground in the tense loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg, but the backrower has mostly been kept on the sidelines since then.

Blackadder was named to start at No. 8 for Tasman in last weekend’s NPC quarter-final against Canterbury in Nelson, but the All Black was withdrawn just before kick-off. The Mako went on to lose by a staggering 48 points to their arch-rivals.

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“This is hugely disappointing for Ethan, Luke and Dalton, but we know they will be working on recovering well and with a view to making themselves available again as soon as possible,” coach Scott Robertson said in a statement.

“This opens up opportunities for some other players though. We are excited to be welcoming Josh back into the group and giving Peter Lakai his chance to wear the All Blacks jersey.

“We will assess the status of Ethan, Luke and Dalton’s injuries prior to travelling to England, to determine whether we are going to require that additional injury cover.”

Seven members of the All Blacks XV squad will also travel to Japan as training cover. Bradley Slater, George Bower, Fabian Holland, Christian Lio-Willie, and Oliver Haig are the five forwards, while the two backs at Harry Plummer and AJ Lam.

In a win for the provincial game, none of these players represent teams who are set to play in the semi-finals this weekend. All Blacks XV coach Clayton McMillan confirmed last week that squad members would otherwise be free to play in the semis and final.

After their time in Japan, these players will then fly to Ireland where they’ll link up with the rest of the All Blacks XV squad. However, one final call-up is possible to fill the 36^th spot in the All Blacks XV squad for the remainder of their Northern Tour.

Members of All Blacks XV squad travelling to Japan as injury cover

Forwards

Bradley Slater (Hooker)

George Bower (Prop)

Fabian Holland (Lock)

Christian Lio-Willie (Loose forward)

Oliver Haig (Loose forward)

Backs

Harry Plummer (First five-eighth)

AJ Lam (Midfielder)

All Blacks fixtures

Saturday 26 October – All Blacks vs Japan, 6.50PM (NZST), Nissan Stadium, Yokohama

Sunday 03 November – All Blacks vs England, 4.10AM (NZST), Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), London

Saturday 09 November – All Blacks vs Ireland, 9.10AM (NZST), Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Sunday 17 November – All Blacks vs France, 9.10AM (NZST), Stade de France, Paris

Sunday 24 November – All Blacks vs Italy, 9.10AM (NZST), Allianz Stadium, Turin

Comments

12 Comments

Thomas K 212 days ago

What on earth does Brayden Iose have to do??

Longshanks 212 days ago

Playing openside flanker not No. 8 would be a start

Jen 213 days ago

I'm not excited about anyone being injured but WOOHOOO LAKAI

SS 213 days ago

Great news for Lakai, hope he takes that chance and makes it his own. Blackadder should not be in the squad. One good game, out for four. Pointless

SC 213 days ago

That’s one more good game than Papalii or Finau this season.

Bruiser 213 days ago

Why bring in Lord if we lost 3 backrowers? Vaii or Barrett to cover 6/8?

Icefarrow 212 days ago

Robertson said it was just to get him some more experience in the training squad. Probably want to help him develop his game further.

SC 213 days ago

My guess is that Scott Barrett or Tupou Vaa’i might be required to play blindside as you suggest. Neither are covering 8

YeowNotEven 213 days ago

I think it’s because there is injury cover in Japan from the xv squad; Oliver Haig, lio-willie for loose forwards.

I guess they all train with the real ABs squad?

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 4 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 4 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 4 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 4 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 4 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 4 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍