The All Blacks will be without the services of two star backs for the Rugby Championship clash between New Zealand and Argentina next week.
Injury has ruled out Will Jordan and Leicester Fainga’anuku for the Kiwis’ opening Test of 2023, head coach Ian Foster said on Saturday.
The pair will not fly to Mendoza for the match against the Pumas on 8 July, with Fainga’anuku nursing a calf injury and Jordan managing what medical staff called a “migrainous condition”.
Both players started in last week’s Super Rugby Pacific final for the champion Crusaders.
Chiefs outside back Shaun Stevenson and Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafile’o will fly out with the 36-man squad on Sunday as replacements.
Foster said Jordan’s omission was precautionary after the speedy fullback spent seven months on the sidelines recovering from an inner ear problem that causes vertigo.
The 25-year-old, who has scored 21 tries from 21 Tests, impressed with his form for the Crusaders when he returned to the field in May.
“Will has been going really well, but in order to make sure he keeps tracking that way, we’ve decided to withdraw him from the long-haul trip to Argentina,” Foster said.
“This is more of a precautionary measure that we’ve put in place with the bigger picture of 2023 in mind.”
Fainga’anuku was the 2023 Super Rugby’s leading try-scorer this season, with 13.
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