Blockbusting midfielder Ngani Laumape has been called into the All Blacks squad preparing for the Rugby Championship campaign in Australia next month.
Laumape, who was unlucky to miss selection for last year's Rugby World Cup, seemed certain to force his way back into the national team this year, after displaying scintillating form for the Hurricanes during Super Rugby Aotearoa.
But one week after singlehandedly demolishing the Blues at Wellington's Sky Stadium, he broke his wrist in a tackle against the Crusaders and has been sidelined for more than two months since.
Laumape has been brought into the national team camp to replace Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor, who tore an anterior cruciate (knee) ligament during the North v South match last month.
Hurricanes teammate Peter Umaga-Jensen has been added to the squad as cover for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series.
New national coach Ian Foster has also lost the services of lock Quinten Strange with an ankle injury that's likely to keep him out of action for 6-8 weeks.
The All Blacks' 2020 campaign begins on Sunday, with the first Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington.
Join us at 4pm Sunday for live updates of the All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test
