New Zealand called up forwards Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Jamie Hannah to their tour of South Africa on Sunday after two players suffered head knocks during the first Test.
Prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord will both undergo concussion protocol testing after their heads collided and they were replaced in the first half of the All Blacks’ 33-16 win in Johannesburg.
A New Zealand Rugby statement said experienced Auckland Blues prop Tu’ungafasi and Canterbury Crusaders lock Hannah were set to join the tourists on Monday.
The pair could be swung straight into action to play in the final midweek tour match, against the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday.
Six additional players in total have been added to New Zealand’s original squad of 44 because of injuries.
There is uncertainty over the availability of back-rower Anton Segner for the remainder of the tour, which comprises the Lions match followed by Tests in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Baltimore in the United States.
German-born Segner was named on the replacements bench for the first Test but was withdrawn hours out from kickoff with a swollen ankle.
No time frame has been put on his recovery.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks were celebrating their dismantling of the Springboks at SA’s Ellis Park fortress.
“I am really proud of our effort. It was a boxing match out there, and it came down to crucial moments. We locked it in when it was tight,” said New Zealand captain and No.8 Ardie Savea.
“It was an amazing spectacle, but the series is not over; they will keep coming. We need to get people in front of their bodies because they broke our line a few times tonight.”
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie was satisfied to come out on top of what he described as a tough encounter.
“There was nothing in that game. I know the score might sound convincing, but it was an absolute arm wrestle at 19-16,” admitted Rennie after the match.
“We were under the pump and the boys barred up. We defended and defended and then we were clinical when we got our opportunities. I am really proud; it was a massive effort. It’s a great result for us, but we are wary of the response that we’ll get next week.
“We were down on the penalty count, and we gave away some not-smart penalties. So that was frustrating that we kept giving them entries into the 22, but South Africa are the best in the world.
“They score five and a half points every entry (over the season previously), and tonight I think it was 0.9, whereas we were 3.7. I reckon that’s a big stat. We were able to convert when we got down there, and they weren’t.” - AFP, Sports Staff
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