All Blacks captain Scott Barrett is poised to return for the mammoth challenge awaiting his side in South Africa in the next phase of the Rugby Championship.
Coach Scott Robertson confirmed the 72-test lock would travel to South Africa next week ahead of back-to-back tests against the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The 30-year-old’s imminent comeback was tempered by the revelation that another three forwards, experienced lock Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), loose forward Luke Jacobson (hamstring) and loosehead prop Ethan de Groot (neck), are still injury doubts.
Robertson said they didn’t yet know if the stricken trio would join their 36-man squad flying to South Africa, and will determine their readiness in the coming days.
The coach was in a jovial mood after his team hammered a hapless Pumas side 42-10 in Auckland in the best performance of his reign to date.
Barrett will assume the captaincy after Ardie Savea deputised as skipper for the Argentina tests and will be a welcome addition for when the All Blacks’ pack faces its ultimate test against the brutal Boks forwards.
Jacobson might have made the 23 for the Johannesburg test on September 1st if fit, but the All Blacks are well covered at loose forward after Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Ethan Blackadder and Sam Cane featured in their pack’s dominance over the Pumas at Eden Park.
Source: Stuff.co
