Three more All Blacks ruled out of northern tour

The All Blacks have ruled out three more players from their upcoming Nations Championship Northern Series tour: Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei’aho, and Shannon Frizell. Lomax, a prop, will remain home to treat an aggravated neck disc injury he has managed since the Super Rugby season. Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho suffered a calf tear while accelerating off a maul during the second Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney and faces four to six weeks of recovery.

Loose forward Shannon Frizell is also expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks after sustaining a PCL rupture in his left knee. The injury occurred during the second Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney following a non-contact incident. This injury marks a setback for the 32-year-old, who had recently returned to international rugby after three seasons in Japan.

The trio joins a growing list of unavailable players, including captain Ardie Savea (shoulder), Ruben Love (ankle), Luke Jacobson (elbow), Caleb Clarke (shoulder), Leroy Carter (ankle), and Ollie Norris (knee). Other players, such as Richie Mo’unga, are still being assessed.

New Zealand Rugby expects to name a 36-man squad on Tuesday. The All Blacks are scheduled to play Scotland on November 8, Wales on November 15, and England on November 22. The Nations Championship will conclude with a finals weekend on November 27-29.

How it developed

• Sat 24 Oct, 3:38pmThe report identifies additional players under assessment, including Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Asafo Aumua, Anton Segner, Quinn Tupaea, and Fehi Fineanganofo.

Where reports differ

• One report lists Tamaiti Williams as having a back injury, while another lists a discitis.
• One report notes the Northern Series consists of three tests, while another mentions four tests.

Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald, 1News, The Post, RNZ and Otago Daily Times.