New Zealand have sent an SOS back home after a training incident ahead of Friday’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Cape Town Stadium.
Hooker George Bell hurt his calf during one of the All Blacks’ first sessions in Cape Town, and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Bradley Slater is on his way to South Africa and due to join head coach Dave Rennie’s squad on Wednesday.
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“We are all gutted for George, to be ruled out of the tour so early,” Rennie said. “He’s had a frustrating past few months with injury so it’s a real blow for him to have injured his calf again.”
According to the New Zealand Herald, Slater could face the Stormers on Friday night with tour captain Codie Taylor (calf niggle) not expected to play.
Bell had travelled as the fourth-choice hooker behind Taylor, Asafo Aumua and Samisoni Taukei’aho.
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