All Blacks confident Will Jordan and Cam Roigard will be fit for Springboks Test

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie remains confident that Will Jordan and Cam Roigard will recover in time to face the Springboks in the opening Test at Ellis Park on 22 August.

Neither player was included in the team named to take on the Bulls, with both currently sidelined as New Zealand prepare for the first match against South Africa.

Roigard had initially been selected on the bench for the match against the Sharks, but was withdrawn from the squad after suffering a setback. Rennie said the scrum-half had been expected to play only a limited role before the injury concern emerged.

“With Cam Roigard, the plan was just to give him maybe 30 minutes off the bench, and then he just pulled up a little lame,” Rennie said.

Despite that withdrawal, Rennie expects Roigard to be available for the Test in Johannesburg. The coach also pointed to the player’s workload during the year as a reason for his confidence.

“We’re pretty confident he’ll be right for the first Test, and he’s played a lot of rugby this year.”

Jordan, the All Blacks’ record try scorer, was also expected to feature against the Sharks but was not considered ready. The winger had been scheduled to return in that game, with the possibility of building up further match time against the Bulls.

However, his recovery has not progressed far enough for him to take part this week. Rennie said Jordan was improving and that there was still a reasonable expectation he would be fit to face the Springboks.

“The original plan was to play him against the Sharks,” Rennie said.

“When he wasn’t good for that, we thought we’d play him and even give him some game time this week, but he’s not quite right [still].

“But he’s definitely better, so we’re reasonably confident.”

The updates come after Rennie named his side for the Bulls, a selection that did not include either of the two regular starters.

Roigard’s absence is particularly notable because he had been due to provide cover from the bench against the Sharks before being removed from the matchday squad. Jordan, meanwhile, remains in recovery as the All Blacks assess whether he can return in time for the opening Test.

The first meeting with the Springboks will take place at Ellis Park on 22 August, giving both players time to continue their rehabilitation. Rennie’s comments suggest the All Blacks are hopeful that neither injury will prevent Jordan or Roigard from being involved in Johannesburg.

Before that Test, New Zealand face the Bulls at Loftus on Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00.