Caleb Clarke sidelined for up to 8 weeks with injury, Vaa’i to miss third test

All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke could be forced to miss the majority of the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship campaign after hurting his ankle during training in Wellington last week.

Clarke was named to start on the wing against France over the weekend, but was later replaced by Rieko Ioane in the number 11 jersey following his injury, with Emoni Narawa starting on the right wing.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson confirmed in Hamilton that Clarke could be out for probably six to eight weeks.

The All Blacks will play their first two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in Cordoba and Buenos Aires on August 17 and 24.

They will then return to New Zealand for their next tests against the Springboks in Auckland and Wellington on September 6 and 13.

The All Blacks will play the final championship matches against the Wallabies in Auckland and Perth on September 27 and October 4.

Meanwhile, Robertson will be forced to make one change for the series finale against France after lock-turned-loose forward Tupou Vaa'i was ruled out following his concussion in the win over the French in Wellington.

The All Blacks will take on France at 7.05pm this Saturday at the FMG Stadium in Waikato.