The last thing the All Blacks need at the Rugby World Cup would be another injury worry, but influential lock Scott Barrett has arrived in Lyon appearing to sport an injured hand.
Barrett, 29, touched down in Lyon with heavy strapping on his left hand and left wrist, coming days after the All Blacks suffered defeat to hosts France in their World Cup opener.
The All Blacks have assured Newshub the strapping is precautionary, and they wanted to eliminate any risk of further damage.
Losing Barrett would be another blow for the All Blacks, as he has been one of their best players in 2023 so far.
Given Brodie Retallick is only just making his way back to full fitness from a knee injury suffered against Australia in Dunedin, Barrett is a player Ian Foster's side cannot afford to lose.
While Retallick could return for the All Blacks' second pool fixture against Namibia this weekend, Foster on Sunday (NZ time) confirmed that the pair of Shannon Frizell and Tyrel Lomax will not be available, as they continue to come back from injury.
However, Jordie Barrett is continuing to improve as he works back from a knee injury that scratched him from the opener against France, while there are no long-term fears over captain Sam Cane, who was withdrawn at the last minute with a back injury.
Loose forward Ethan Blackadder will arrive in France on Monday (local time), after he was called up to replace winger Emoni Narawa, whose tournament was over before it began with the recurrence of a back injury.
Join Newshub for live updates of the All Blacks v Namibia from 7am Saturday
