All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell is out of the Test against the Wallabies in Sydney next Saturday due to a calf injury.
Fletcher, who played back-up to Tyrel Lomax in South Africa, will not travel across the Ditch with the squad due to the injury suffered in his side’s 18-12 defeat to the Springboks in Cape Town last weekend.
There is a possibility the Crusaders tighthead will be available for the second Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Wellington in two weeks.
George Bower has withdrawn from Otago’s NPC match against Counties this afternoon and will travel as cover.
More positive news for the All Blacks is the fact loosehead prop Ethan de Groot has recovered from the neck injury which ruled him out of the two defeats to the Boks in South Africa.
The All Blacks will be hoping to snap their two-Test losing streak against a Wallabies side thrashed 67-27 by Argentina in Santa Fe last weekend.
Australia, who conceded nine tries to the Pumas, appear the ideal opponent to spark the All Blacks’ misfiring attack.
The Wallabies, on yet another rebuilding mission, this time under former All Blacks coach Joe Schmidt, are sitting last on the Rugby Championship table behind the Boks, Pumas and New Zealand.
The Aussies have not held the Bledisloe Cup since 2002.
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