Key All Blacks duo missing from squad of Springbok tests

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has named a 36 man touring squad for his team’s upcoming fixtures against the World Champion Springboks.

Absent through injury are lock Patrick Tuipulotu and outside back Stephen Perofeta with both player continuing their rehab in New Zealand.

Lock Josh Lord and utility back Harry Plummer who joined the squad as injury cover for the two Argentina Tests, will remain with the squad for two Tests against South Africa in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The 36-man squad travelling to South Africa is:

Forwards (20)

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury)
George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Props
Ethan De Groot (Highlanders / Southland)
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman)
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland)
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Locks
Scott Barrett (Crusaders / Taranaki) (Captain)
Sam Darry (Blues / Canterbury)
Josh Lord (Chiefs / Taranaki)
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)

Loose Forwards
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders / Tasman)
Sam Cane (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs / Waikato)
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato)
Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau)
Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika / Wellington) (Vice Captain)
Wallace Sititi (Chiefs / North Harbour)

Backs (16)

Halfbacks
Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Tasman)
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (Chiefs / Waikato)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)

Mid-fielders
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes / Taranaki) (Vice Captain)
David Havili (Crusaders / Tasman)
Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Outside backs
Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland)
Will Jordan (Crusaders / Tasman)
Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Harry Plummer (Blues/Auckland)
Sevu Reece (Crusaders / Southland)
Mark Tele’a (Blues / North Harbour)