All Blacks call up Tuungafasi and Hannah after injury setbacks

The All Blacks have called for injury reinforcements from New Zealand, with prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi and lock Jamie Hannah due to join the squad before next Saturday’s second Test against the Springboks in Cape Town.

New Zealand’s request comes after Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord were forced out of the opening Test at Ellis Park following a collision while the pair were attempting a tackle.

Both players left the field for head injury assessments (HIA) and neither returned to the match. Their availability for the remainder of the tour has not yet been confirmed, leaving uncertainty over whether either will be able to continue in South Africa.

Tu’ungafasi and Hannah will therefore link up with the All Blacks as they prepare for the second meeting with the Springboks. Tu’ungafasi provides additional cover in the front row, while Hannah offers another option at lock.

The call-ups add to a growing injury list for New Zealand, who have already lost George Bell, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke and Ollie Norris during the tour.

The latest setbacks came during the first Test at Ellis Park, where de Groot and Lord were involved in the same tackling incident. Their removal meant they were unable to take any further part in the match after undergoing the required HIA assessments.

New Zealand now face a period of uncertainty before the return fixture in Cape Town. The All Blacks have yet to establish whether de Groot and Lord will recover sufficiently to remain available in South Africa, but the arrival of Tu’ungafasi and Hannah ensures the squad has further personnel ahead of the second Test.

The injuries continue a difficult spell for the touring side. Bell, Proctor, Clarke and Norris had already been ruled out through injury, and the loss of de Groot and Lord during the opening Test has increased the pressure on New Zealand’s playing group.

Tu’ungafasi and Hannah are expected to join the squad in the build-up to next Saturday’s match, as the All Blacks respond to the latest concerns over their forwards. Their inclusion follows the head injuries suffered by de Groot and Lord and comes with the team still waiting to learn whether the two players involved in that collision can take any further part in the tour.