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Scott Barrett goes under the knife upon return to New Zealand
By Ned Lester
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett is the latest question mark in Scott Robertson's Rugby Championship squad, having required surgery on a finger injury sustained against Fiji in San Diego.
A statement from New Zealand Rugby on Saturday revealed the injury without offering a timeline for recovery.
"Scott Barrett injured a finger during the All Blacks Test against Fiji in San Diego which has required a surgical treatment after return to New Zealand," the statement read.
"The injury is now being assessed."
It is expected the coaching group will provide more insight following The Rugby Championship squad naming on Sunday.
The squad will need a new captain should Barrett miss game time in the opening Tests against Argentina in two weeks' time, with additional second-row cover also required.
The team opted to select just three locks in the Steinlager Series squad, with Barrett joined by Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa'i, with the former's health a question mark in itself.
Tuipulotu made a miraculous return to the fold after injuring his MCL in the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final against Fiji, only to play two weeks later in the grand final.
While it was an incredible feat, the Blues captain was absent from the trip to California as medics decided it was best to rest and recover some more after a gruelling England series.
It leaves Vaa'i as the lone healthy lock from the 33-man squad.
24-year-old Sam Darry took Tuipulotu's place in San Diego, making his All Blacks debut as the first in a new era of second rowers following the iconic careers of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick in the black jersey.
Darry was joined by four-time All Black Josh Lord in All Blacks camp throughout the England series as additional cover, and selectors may call upon both players once more for The Rugby Championship.
The team will also need a captain. Vice-captain and reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea is considered the leading contender for the honour, one which he has shared eight times previously.
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Latest Comments
Recent complaints that SA players have a 12-month workload isn't of itself a credible enough excuse to lay at the door of EPCR administrators. If SA clubs want to participate in NH league and club competitions and also participate in SH internationals, then clearly something has to give.
From the EPCR perspective, I do think that the format/schedule issues can be fixed if there's a strong enough desire to remove some of the logistical challenges clubs are facing with these long and frequent trips across the hemispheres.
From the SA player workload perspective however, I'm not sure how players can participate safely and competitively at both the club and international levels. Perhaps - and as Rassie appears to be developing, SA develop a super squad with sufficient player numbers and rotation to allow players to compete across the full 12-month calendar.
Bottom line though, is the geographical isolation is always going to restrict SA's ability to having the best of both worlds.
Go to commentsMoriaty refused to play for wales also he’s injured, France’s is being coy about wales, North in the dark but Sam David and jerad are you joking their not good enough
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