The All Blacks have suffered a late setback ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup test against Australia tonight at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Second-Five Jordie Barrett will miss the game, withdrawn with a tight calf muscle, after sitting out training yesterday.
Barrett was due to team up again with Quinn Tupaea in the midfield, his 87th test. The youngest Barrett brother wasn’t seen at yesterday’s captain’s run at an inner-city Sydney high school.
Barrett’s been in top form for the All Blacks this year, starring in the South African series and delivering a man of the match performance last week in the 50-19 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park.
Highlanders midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai replaces Barrett in the 12 jersey, making just his third test appearance. Canterbury utility back Chay Fihaki now comes onto the bench, set for a test debut.
The test match kicks off at 6pm New Zealand time, 4pm local time, with better conditions today in Sydney after a rain-affected week leading into the game.
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