The All Blacks have been hit hard by injuries ahead of their end-of-year tour, with loose forwards Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, and Dalton Papali'i ruled out of the opening test against Japan due to various injuries. Coach Scott Robertson expressed disappointment but emphasized that this situation opens opportunities for new players, specifically 21-year-old Peter Lakai and 23-year-old Josh Lord, who have been called up as replacements. The team will assess the injured players' conditions before traveling to England for their next match. Seven members of the All Blacks XV squad will also travel to Japan as training cover. The All Blacks kick off their tour against Japan in Yokohama on October 26, followed by tests against other European teams in November. This marks a significant challenge for the team as they navigate their depth in the loose forward position.