All Blacks Call Up Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Jamie Hannah After Ellis Park Injury Blow
- All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie called up two replacements after injuries to Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord during the win over the Springboks
- Prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi and lock Jamie Hannah joined the touring squad ahead of Tuesday's clash with the Lions
- New Zealand's injury list on tour has continued to grow, with several players already ruled out before Saturday's match
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Head coach Dave Rennie has been forced to reinforce his All Blacks squad after two more players sustained injuries during Saturday's 33-16 victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park.
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Prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord both picked up concussions during the win and are currently being assessed under World Rugby's concussion protocols. Their availability for Tuesday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry fixture against the Lions remains uncertain while monitoring continues.
Tu'ungafasi and Hannah join touring squad
To cover for the pair, Rennie has summoned experienced prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi and lock Jamie Hannah. Tu'ungafasi arrives with 57 Test caps to his name, offering the All Blacks significant front-row depth. Hannah, by contrast, is relatively new to the international setup, having made his Test debut against France in July.
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The two call-ups add to a growing list of reinforcements that Rennie has had to organise throughout the tour. New Zealand had already lost George Bell, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke and Ollie Norris to injury before Saturday's contest, with Bradley Slater, Saula Ma'u, Noah Hotham and Richie Mo'unga all previously drafted into the travelling group as replacements.
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Segner withdrawn before kick-off
Rennie also had to manage a late change to his matchday 23 on Saturday, with loose forward Anton Segner ruled out due to a swollen ankle. Simon Parker was brought onto the bench in his place ahead of kick-off.
Despite the growing injury concerns threatening to overshadow the result, Rennie has spoken positively about the performance at Ellis Park while acknowledging the challenges ahead as the tour continues.
Springboks legend reacts to defeat against All Blacks
Briefly News previously reported that Springboks legend Kobus Wiese responded publicly after South Africa lost 33-16 to the All Blacks at Ellis Park on 22 August 2026
The defeat saw the Springboks concede five tries to one and drop their top World Rugby ranking for the first time since August 2025
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
