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The All Blacks will be without two Crusaders stars for their opening game of the Rugby Championship, against Argentina next Sunday.
New Zealand Rugby have confirmed winger Leicester Fainga’anuku and fullback Will Jordan will not travel with the team to Mendoza, ruling them out of the All Blacks’ first test of 2023.
Fainga’anuku is nursing a calf injury while Jordan is said to be managing a “migrainous condition” and is being held back as a precaution.
The two outside backs both started for the victorious Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific final last weekend.
The Toulon-bound Fainga’anuku finished his final season with the Crusaders as the competition’s leading try-scorer with 13.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Crusaders winger Leicester Fainga’anuku top scored with 13 tries during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
“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,” coach Ian Foster said.
“This is more of a precautionary measure that we’ve put in place with the bigger picture of 2023 in mind.”
While their absence is a blow, it could open the door for uncapped Chiefs standout Shaun Stevenson to make his international debut against the Pumas.
Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafile’o will travel with the All Blacks.
Despite his sensational form for the Chiefs, Stevenson was left out of the original All Blacks squad, only included as an injury replacement for Mark Telea.
Telea will travel to Argentina but is not expected to be fit for selection.
Uncapped Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafile’o has also been confirmed to travel after joining the squad as cover for Fletcher Newell.
A foot injury Newell sidelined for the latter stages of the Super Rugby season.
All Blacks’ travelling squad
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho
Props: Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Tevita Mafile’o, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (c), Samipeni Finau, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, Braydon Ennor, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Dallas McLeod
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson, Mark Telea
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