The All Blacks will be without one of their most potent weapons for the first Bledisloe Cup test against Australia at Melbourne next Thursday.
No.8 Ardie Savea won't join the 33-man squad to make the trip across the Tasman and will instead remain home for the birth of his child. He is expected to return when the squad assembles for the second test at Auckland's Eden Park on September 24.
One of the standouts amid a rollercoaster 2022, Savea will be sorely missed at Marvel Stadium, where Blues powerhouse Hoskins Sotutu is poised to return to the starting XV as his replacement.
In other squad news, Chiefs star Luke Jacobson has been recalled as an injury replacement for Shannon Frizell, who damaged his ribs during Saturday's 53-3 win over Argentina.
Since his 2019 debut, Jacobson, 25, has played just 12 tests for the All Blacks, with ongoing concussion symptoms limiting his availability. Yet to feature this year, his last test was against Italy during November's European tour.
Dalton Papali'i and Akira Ioane loom as the likely contenders to replace Frizell in the run-on side, although the selectors may look to shift Scott Barrett across from lock to reprise the blindside role he played in the first test against Ireland. That would allow the locking duo of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock to reunite, after the Chiefs colossus made his return from injury off the bench last weekend.
Frizell joins Jack Goodhue (knee) and Patrick Tuipulotu (neck) on the list of injured players that are not available for selection next week.
Josh Dickson has been officially released from the squad, after coming in as injury cover, and will rejoin the Otago squad for round six of the national provincial championship.
Props Aidan Ross, Angus Ta'avao and midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will also remain in New Zealand to play for their respective provinces.
The victory over the Pumas at Hamilton lifted the All Blacks to the top of the Rugby Championship standings. They're one point clear of the Australians, who lost 24-8 to South Africa at Sydney.
All Blacks squad for first Bledisloe Cup test:
Hookers: Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor.
Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (captain), Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu.
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Folau Fakatava, Aaron Smith.
First five–eighths: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Stephen Perofeta.
Midfielders: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Quinn Tupaea.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece.
Join us at 9:45pm Thursday, September 15 for live updates of the first All Blacks v Australia Bledisloe Cup test
