WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has been forced to call up a veteran and a rookie as injury cover after Saturday’s bruising 33-16 win over South Africa in the first test of a historic four-test series.
Prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who played the most-recent of his 68 tests for the All Blacks two years ago, and lock Jamie Hannah, who made his debut against France earlier this year, have been summoned as replacements for Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord.
Loosehead prop de Groot and lock Lord were injured in a collision of heads in the 38th minute of the test at Johannesburg. The 34-year-old Tu’ungafasi and 23-year-old Hannah are expected to join the New Zealand squad on Monday ahead of the final club match of the tour against the Lions.
Lord and de Groot both failed head injury assessments and are unlikely to be able to play in the second test next Saturday under existing concussion protocols.
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