All Blacks squad update - Newell ruled out

Injured All Black Fletcher Newell will miss next week's Rugby Championship Test against Australia, but New Zealand Rugby said on Sunday fellow-prop Ethan de Groot is fit to play.

Crusaders tight-head specialist Newell suffered a calf injury during their 18-12 loss to South Africa on September 7 and will not travel to Sydney for the opening Bledisloe Cup Test on Saturday.

A statement from NZ Rugby said Newell's recovery would take an estimated "three to four weeks" but had not yet ruled the 24-year-old out of contention for the return match against the Wallabies in Wellington on September 28.

"Newell will miss the first Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney and be reassessed prior to the second test in Wellington," it read.

Newell was a substitute in the Cape Town defeat, a third loss from four matches for New Zealand in the Rugby Championship which ensured they will not defend their title.

Highlanders loose-head De Groot has recovered from the neck injury that ruled him out of the last three Tests -- a victory over Argentina in Auckland and successive losses in South Africa.

 

 

 

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Crusaders prop George Bower has been added to the squad to travel to Sydney.

"Ethan de Groot has recovered from his neck injury to join the squad travelling to Sydney, while fellow prop George Bower has been withdrawn from Otago's side to play Counties Manukau in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC this afternoon so that he can also travel with the squad," NZ Rugby added.

The All Blacks will travel to Sydney in the coming days ahead of the first Test against the Wallabies on September 21.

It's the first day-time Bledisloe in NSW since 1995 as the Kiwis look to rebound from back-to-back losses against the Springboks.

They sit third on the Rugby Championship ladder after splitting the opening two Tests with Argentina.