NZR confirm two All Blacks stars set to miss Argentina trip

All Blacks selectors Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have announced that two injury replacements will travel to Argentina for next weekend’s Test in Mendoza

As reported by Newstalk ZB rugby commentator and Herald columnist Elliott Smith, Chiefs’ outside back Shaun Stevenson and Hurricanes’ prop Tevita Mafileo will depart with the squad on Sunday (NZT) after it was decided that Leicester Fainga’anuku and Will Jordan will remain in New Zealand.

Fainga’anuku is nursing a calf injury while Jordan is managing a migrainous condition after a busy end to the DHL Super Rugby season.

“Will has been going really well but in order to make sure he keeps tracking that way, we’ve decided to withdraw him from the long-haul trip to Argentina,” said Foster

“This is more of a precautionary measure that we’ve put in place with the bigger picture of 2023 in mind.”

The pair add to an already concerning injury list for coach Ian Foster - with veteran Sam Whitelock in doubt to play against Argentina after defying medical advice to help lead the Crusaders to their seventh straight Super Rugby title.

Jordan’s return to the black jersey takes another setback - the dynamic outside back missed last year’s Northern Tour with an inner ear injury and migraine symptoms - leaving yet more questions as to how the All Blacks back three will take shape when they line up for the first Test of the Rugby Championship.

Travelling squad (Name, Age, Club, Province, Test Caps) *new cap

Hookers

Codie Taylor (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 76)
Dane Coles (36, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)

Props

Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 13)
Fletcher Newell (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 45)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (31, Blues / Northland, 50)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury) *
Tyrel Lomax (27, Hurricanes / Tasman, 23)
Tevita Mafile’o (25, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty) *

Locks

Brodie Retallick (32, Chiefs / Hawkes Bay, 100)
Josh Lord (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 2)
Samuel Whitelock (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 143)
Scott Barrett (29, Crusaders / Taranaki, 58)
Tupou Vaa’i (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, 18)

Loose forwards

Ardie Savea (29, Hurricanes / Wellington, 70)
Dalton Papali’i (25, Blues / Counties Manukau, 22)
Luke Jacobson (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Sam Cane (captain) (31, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 86)
Samipeni Finau (24, Chiefs / Waikato) *
Shannon Frizell (29, Highlanders / Tasman, 25)

Halfbacks

Aaron Smith (34, Highlanders / Manawatu, 114)
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 14)
Cam Roigard (22, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau) *

First-five eighths

Beauden Barrett (32, Blues / Taranaki, 112)
Damian McKenzie (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 40)
Richie Mo’unga (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 44)

Midfielders

Anton Lienert-Brown (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 60)
Jordie Barrett (26, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 48)
Rieko Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 59)
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Dallas McLeod (24, Crusaders / Canterbury) *

Outside backs

Caleb Clarke (24, Blues / Auckland, 15)
Emoni Narawa (23, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty) *
Shaun Stevenson (26, Chiefs / Waikato) *
Mark Telea (26, Blues / North Harbour, 2)

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission