All Blacks draft in experienced prop and one-Test lock amid injury concerns

The All Blacks have been forced to fly over two more squad reinforcements to South Africa, with 68-Test versatile prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Crusaders lock Jamie Hannah the chosen two.

Tu’ungafasi is yet to feature for Dave Rennie in 2026, while Hannah made his Test debut in Christchurch against France at One New Zealand Stadium.

Rennie made the call after loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord clashed heads in the first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against South Africa.

Both squad members will miss the Lions’ midweek fixture and will be under a concussion protocol cloud ahead of the second Test in Cape Town.

The two players fell off a tackle in the 37th minute, where they clashed heads, resulting in them leaving the field and not returning.

“Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Jamie Hannah have been called into the All Blacks squad as injury replacements for Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord, while they progress through the World Rugby concussion protocols,” a New Zealand Rugby release stated.

“They will leave New Zealand immediately to arrive in South Africa on Monday.”

Post-match to reporters at Ellis Park, Rennie provided an update on De Groot’s fitness, after a sickness concern in the lead-up to the Test.

“Ethan de Groot was crook overnight, but yeah, look, we’re really happy with the effort up front, and the scrum was really solid in that last 30.”

“Obviously, it was a head clash, which is problematic long term.

“Neither of those guys can play on Tuesday, and probably can’t play Saturday. Depends on the protocols and what happened on the sideline. Grooter [de Groot] went home early from the captain’s run yesterday and spent a long time in bed.”