Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Jordie Barrett has joined the All Blacks’ mounting injury list after being ruled out of the Sydney Bledisloe Cup Test just hours before kick-off with a calf injury.
The centre was one of New Zealand’s best in a 50-19 defeat of the Wallabies in Auckland last Saturday that ensured the Cup remained in the All Blacks’ hands for at least 24 years.
But he was unable to shrug the calf tightness that lingered after his blockbusting Eden Park performance and was ruled out of the clash on Saturday morning.
Timoci Tavatavanawai will replace Barrett in the run-on side, with Chay Fihaki coming on to the bench to potentially make his Test debut.
It is the latest injury setback for Dave Rennie’s All Blacks, who had four men injured in Auckland and were already without a host of stars, including captain Ardie Savea and flyhalf pair Ruben Love and Richie Mo’unga.
In a sign of the country’s rugby depth, they called on Damian McKenzie to wear the No.10 while Barrett’s brother Beauden slotted in at fullback at Eden Park as they turned a three-point margin at halftime into a comfortable, 12th-straight defeat of the Wallabies.
The Wallabies have been dealt injury blows of their own, with flyhalf Ben Donaldson ruled out of the Sydney rematch and the concussed Len Ikitau also missing.
Declan Meredith will wear the No.10 in what looms as a defining Test for the fledgling playmaker ahead of next year’s World Cup, while Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is poised for a debut off the bench.
The men’s Test will be the last of four fixtures at the ground on Saturday, with the Wallaroos to face Scotland and both the men’s and women’s Australian rugby sevens teams also in action.
