The All Blacks have suffered a blow ahead of their two-match Rugby Championship tour of South Africa this week as prop Ethan De Groot has been ruled out due to a neck injury.
The loss of De Groot could not come at a worse time for Scott Robertson’s men, with the Springboks riding high following clean-sweeping the Wallabies in Australia for the first time in half a century.
Robertson has also had to deal with the immediate departure of experienced assistant Leon MacDonald on the eve of the side flying out to South Africa, citing philosophical differences between the two.
De Groot had already missed the All Blacks’ second Test match against Argentina due to the same injury, however, the result saw Tamaiti Williams promoted to the starting side, and his impact was immediate as the All Blacks bounced back from a shock opening loss of the Rugby Championship to demolish Los Pumas 42-10 at Eden Park, extending the All Blacks’ dominance at the venue to an unprecedented 50 matches.
Fijian Crusaders prop George Bower has been called into the squad as cover.
The All Blacks will take on South Africa at 3am this Sunday at Emirates Airline Park.
Meanwhile, Argentina will host the Wallabies at 10am Sunday.
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