Nov 22,2024
Leinster-bound Jordie Barrett has been ruled out of New Zealand's Test with Italy this Saturday with a knee injury.
The centre was withdrawn in the 36th minute of their 30-29 defeat to France in last weekend's Autumn Nations Series game in Paris.
The 27-year-old is due to link up with Leinster following the November internationals on a contract until the end of the season.
The versatile Hurricanes back missed the opening game of the All Blacks tour against Japan with a medial collateral ligament injury suffered in mid September against Australia in the Rugby Championship but he lined out in the wins over England and Ireland.
Barrett is listed as "unavailable due to injury" on the New Zealand team announcement for their game in Turin.
The match will also mark the end of the international careers of Sam Cane and TJ Perenara, who are moving to Japan.
Cane, who has 103 caps, will line up on the open side of the scrum in a switch to the loose trio with Samipeni Finau out with concussion. It means Ardie Savea moves back to number 8 with Wallace Sititi now on the blindside.
Perenara, with 88 caps, has been named as replacement scrum-half and will likely get a run out to mark the end of his All Blacks career.
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson had been expected to ring the changes and give opportunities to several fringe players but has put out a strong side against Italy, who lost heavily to Argentina in their opening November international and had a struggle to get the better of Georgia last week.
There are a total of five changes in the All Blacks line-up from the narrow loss in Paris last Saturday.
Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot, not used since being suspended for breaching team protocol ahead of the first Test on tour against England, has been chosen in place of Tamaiti Williams, who suffered a neck injury against France last Saturday, while Patrick Tuipulotu replaces Tupou Vaa'i in the second row.
Jordie Barrett, who was set to have a scan on his knee, is replaced by the experienced Anton Lienert-Brown, while Mark Tele’a is back on the right wing after a hand injury, replacing Sevu Reece in the two backline changes.
"This Italy team has made a real impact on the international stage this year, with a strong showing in the Six Nations," Robertson said in a statement naming the team.
"We know the passion this team will bring, so we are preparing for a physical and motivated Italy for our final Test of the tour."
Additional reporting: Reuters
