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The All Blacks arrived in Australia on Thursday night missing three key players whose wives are expecting babies in the next few weeks.
Stand-in captain Sam Whitelock, scrumhalf Aaron Smith and flyhalf Richie Mo’unga were all left out of the 35-strong travelling squad for the Perth Test and coach Ian Foster revealed they might also miss the first two TRC matches against Argentina in Queensland.
“I’d be surprised if it wasn’t three. I don’t really want to say too much beyond that,” Foster said.
“We don’t want to put any expectation or pressure on families. It’s pretty extraordinary times.
“We’d prefer to have all our experienced players on deck but this is a chance to grow a bit of depth by necessity.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“We’re massively supportive of the decisions they’ve made for their families.
“I know the team is 100 per cent behind them, and I know they’re very keen to jump on a plane as soon as they can. It’s been difficult saying goodbye to them, but the reality is that’s what we have to do in these times.
“The fact it would normally mean people missing one test and now they might miss three or four complicates the whole issue, but the solution is pretty simple.”
Hooker Codie Taylor is expected to replace Whitelock as captain as the All Blacks attempt to sweep the series 3-0.
Whitelock took over in New Zealand’s five Tests this season from regular captain Sam Cane, who is recovering from a pectoral injury.
Hooker Dane Coles also has been omitted from the travelling squad because of a calf muscle injury.
Whitelock, Smith and Mo’unga are expected to rejoin the New Zealand team for matches next month in the Rugby Championship, depending on quarantine and other issues.
Beauden Barrett is the only specialist flyhalf in the squad named on Thursday by head coach Ian Foster.
After playing the Wallabies in Perth on September 4, the All Blacks will move to Queensland for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
The squad will then move on to the United States and Britain, without returning to New Zealand, for an end-of-season tour which will likely keep players away from home for around 14 weeks.
“We’ll be playing 10 Tests in 12 weeks in both the southern and northern hemispheres and with COVID-19 travel and quarantine restrictions, this will be a tour like no other for us in the professional era,” Foster said.
NEW ZEALAND SQUAD
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor, George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta,avao, Karl Tu,inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Ethan Blackadder, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu.
Backs: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece.
(With The Associated Press)
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