All Blacks call up two players after Springboks victory
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Reinforcements.
The All Blacks have called Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Jamie Hannah into their touring squad following Saturday’s 33-16 victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park.
The two forwards have been drafted in as injury replacements for Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord, who are both progressing through World Rugby’s concussion protocols after the opening Test of the four-match series.
De Groot and Lord were forced from the field following a head clash shortly before half-time in Johannesburg and did not return.
New Zealand have now moved quickly to strengthen their forward options ahead of a busy week, with the tourists facing the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday before travelling to Cape Town for the second Test against South Africa next Saturday.
Tu’ungafasi provides Dave Rennie with a hugely experienced front-row option. The veteran prop has won 68 Test caps for New Zealand and was part of the All Blacks squads at the previous two Rugby World Cups.
His most recent Test appearance came in 2024, meaning a return during the remainder of the South African tour would mark his first appearance for the All Blacks in almost two years.
Hannah, meanwhile, is at the opposite end of his international career. The 23-year-old Crusaders lock earned his first Test cap during this year’s Nations Championship after initially being named among four uncapped players in Rennie’s first All Blacks squad.
Both Tu’ungafasi and Hannah are expected to arrive in South Africa on Monday as New Zealand manage the fallout from the injuries suffered at Ellis Park.
The latest call-ups continue a disruptive tour on the injury front for the All Blacks, with Reuters reporting that they are already the fourth and fifth replacement players required during the opening two weeks of New Zealand’s six-week tour.
Despite those setbacks, Rennie’s side remain unbeaten in South Africa and drew first blood in the Test series with an impressive five-try victory at Ellis Park.
The result ended the Springboks’ 12-match winning streak and leaves New Zealand 1-0 ahead going into next weekend’s second Test in Cape Town.
