All Blacks Confirm Squad for Rugby Championship

The All Blacks have retained lock Josh Lord and utility back Harry Plummer for their upcoming Rugby Championship tour of South Africa, as Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta remain sidelined due to calf injuries. Both Tuipulotu and Perofeta missed the recent Tests against Argentina, which saw the All Blacks split results, losing in Wellington but winning in Auckland. Lord contributed off the bench during these matches, filling in after captain Scott Barrett sustained a finger injury, although Barrett is expected to recover in time for the critical Tests against the Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Additionally, loose forward Luke Jacobson and prop Ethan de Groot will travel with the squad despite their own injury concerns. Plummer's versatility as a flyhalf and fullback adds depth to the squad, which includes two uncapped players: him and outside back Ruben Love. The upcoming matches are crucial for determining the champion of the southern hemisphere.