Robertson names 36-man squad for Bok Tests in South Africa

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has named his side for their two-Test tour of South Africa.

The New Zealanders will arrive in South Africa later this week for Rugby Championship Tests in Joburg next weekend (August 31) and in Cape Town on September 7.

The 36-man squad will be without lock Patrick Tuipulotu and outside back Stephen Perofeta, who both have calf injuries. Both players also missed the recent two Tests against Argentina in Wellington and Auckland.

A win and a loss

The two players who’ve been added to the squad to cover for the unavailability of Tuipulotu and Perofeta are lock Josh Lord and utility back Harry Plummer.

The squad will be captained by Scott Barrett.

The New Zealanders will go into the Tests on the back of a defeat and a win against Argentina, while the Springboks have two wins in the bag from their Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane and Perth.

On Tuesday, Bok boss Rassie Erasmus named his 37-man squad for the Tests, with five World Cup winners recalled to the group.

Formerly injured men Steven Kitshoff, Canan Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse are back in the mix after not playing any Test rugby earlier this year, while the two men who were serving lengthy suspensions, Jasper Wiese and Andre Esterhuizen, are back and available for selection.

All Blacks’ 36-man squad:

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell

Props: Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams

Locks: Scott Barrett (capt), Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i

Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi

Scrumhalves: Noah Hotham, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima

Flyhalves: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie

Centres: Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor

Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Harry Plummer, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a