Barrett's injury all but locks Holland in
The All Blacks yesterday confirmed skipper Scott Barrett had been ruled out of the remainder of the test series against France with a calf tear.
Barrett suffered the injury during the first test in Dunedin last Saturday.
It was initially thought to be an Achilles issue when he was replaced midway through the second half in the 31-27 win, but a scan on Monday revealed the small tear in the calf muscle.
Barrett will miss the second test in Wellington this Saturday and the third test in Hamilton a week later.
Assistant coach Scott Hansen said Barrett was a big loss.
"He's a massive part of the team," Hansen said yesterday.
"We're obviously disappointed to lose the skip, but we've got to go forward. We trust our depth. There is an opportunity for someone else to step up."
Hansen said there was no timeframe for Barrett's return.
After the French series, the All Blacks get a short break before heading to Argentina for Rugby Championship tests against the Pumas on August 17 and 24.
"We'll just take it week for week. He'll be keen to get back as quickly as possible, but we obviously have to do what's right for him in the injury process."
Highlanders lock Fabian Holland will now be odds-on to start all three tests against France.
He made an immense impact on debut at his home stadium, playing all 80 minutes, dominating the lineout and leading the All Blacks' tackle count.
The question might be who will partner Holland in the second row.
The All Blacks could return Tupou Vaa'i to his natural locking spot and give Samipeni Finau a start in the No6 jersey, or they may be keen to see Vaa'i have another run at blindside, meaning veteran Patrick Tuipulotu would partner Holland at lock.
Chiefs lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi trained with the All Blacks in Dunedin and shapes as a potential replacement for Barrett in the squad, though Hansen said no decisions had been made yet.
Ardie Savea will take over the captaincy for the rest of the French series.
Savea was already a vice-captain, along with second five Jordie Barrett, and captained the All Blacks in two tests last year.
hayden.meikle@odt.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
‘We were ruthless': How the All Blacks booted their way to victory
Analysis - While the highlight reels will be all about offloads, the All Blacks' 43-17 win was just as much about a masterful control of field position. Scott Robertson was certainly happy to highlight the kicking game in the post-match press conference, saying that his side had learned their lessons from last weekend's much tighter encounter in Dunedin. "Yeah, we got a bit more of a balance," he said. "We played our fullback in the middle of the field so we could put them in the corner, turn them around and put pressure on their set piece. The set piece went great again, that creates opportunities somewhere else when we turn them around and shut down their defensive shape." Codie Taylor scores against France. Photo: Kerry Marshall / It was noticeable early on that Beauden Barrett and Cam Roigard weren't content to simply hoof the ball skyward, although contestable kicking still played a big role. Robertson said that it wasn't just about going up and catching the ball either, with the sometimes messy situation after it bounced very much part of the plan. "They (France) won everything in the first eight or so bounces of the ball last week," he said. "So we were clear on our effort areas. We had to be better as a team and it showed, when the ball bounced we were on a few more than them and it made a massive difference." Barrett, who also continued his good placekicking form with four conversions and a penalty, echoed his coach's sentiments. "There's been a bit of chat around the high ball, but it's winning the scraps around it," he said. Beauden Barrett. Photo: Kerry Marshall / "Sometimes players don't actually go for the ball, they go for a tap back and create a mess, a bit of chaos. So we were working hard on that during the week. It's really important because we didn't win many of those battles last weekend." Meanwhile, the message by stand in captain Ardie Savea before the game to "let the shackles off and be free" certainly inspired some attacking cohesion. Tupou Vaa'i finished off the best try of the night, with the lead-up work featuring four offloads in the tackle. "We spoke during the week about wanting to front up," said Savea. "I think the boys did really well tonight, we were ruthless in most parts of the game." Jordie Barrett is tackled heavily against France. Photo: Kerry Marshall / Robertson was pleased his side trusted themselves on attack, after several key chances went begging last weekend. "It was good to see the referee making the calls and the flow of the game - keeping it fast…we were making sure we were trusting our skill set," he said. It's fair to say this test played out the way many had presumed this series would, after French coach Fabien Galthié overhauled his side from Dunedin. However it is telling that his main kicking weapons - Nolann Le Garrec and Joris Segonds - retained their inside back positions but weren't allowed anywhere near the sort of territorial influence they had in the first test. While the win clinched the Dave Gallaher Cup for the All Blacks, the final test in Hamilton next weekend is an interesting one. Galthié is now able to put together his best side to try and get one back. "This is a series, we might have one two but the third is just as important to us." Asked what he thought whether Galthié would be treating this as a major test match, Robertson had an even shorter answer: "He will now."
1News
2 hours ago
- 1News
All Blacks turn on the accuracy to clinch French series
The All Blacks have won back the Dave Gallaher Trophy with a 43-17 victory over France in Wellington tonight thanks to a first-half performance which blew away the visitors. It is the first time in seven years that the All Blacks have held the trophy and it means the home side have won the three-Test series with one match to come in Hamilton next Saturday night. It was done via a dominant first half, the All Blacks outscoring the visitors four tries to nil in the first 40 minutes and they achieved an accuracy they couldn't manage in the first Test in Dunedin last weekend. In the end the margin of victory - six tries to two - probably flattered the visitors. Brushing off injuries to skipper Scott Barrett and a last-minute problem for Caleb Clarke, the All Blacks displayed a ruthlessness in the first stanza that will please the coaches, with Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea, Codie Taylor and Tupou Vaa'i crossing the line. The All Blacks were hamstring by a yellow card for Beauden Barrett's alleged intentional knock-on in the first half, but after leading 10-0 at that point thanks to a penalty for Barrett and an excellent converted try for Roigard off a front-of-lineout move, it hardly mattered. ADVERTISEMENT The visitors, who pushed the All Blacks all the way under the roof last weekend, took advantage with a penalty but that was their lot in the first half as the home side attacked with verve and vigour against a vastly inexperienced line-up. After competing so well in the first Test of the series, France coach Fabian Galthie elected to make 10 changes to his match-day squad, and it wasn't only the lack of combinations that told in the surprisingly benign weather conditions at the Cake Tin. The French had only 10 caps in their starting XV compared with a remarkable 708 for the All Blacks and the home side made the visitors pay with a composed and mature response high on discipline and low on mistakes – at least in the first half. With a 29-3 advantage at halftime, it was perhaps understandable that the All Blacks took the foot off the throttle a little, the visitors responding with converted tries for halfback Nolann Le Garrec and replacement outside back Antoine Hastoy. But despite New Zealand's ordinary record in Wellington heading into this Test – a victory, two draws and three defeats in since 2018 – the All Blacks were never truly troubled. Tupou Vaa'i celebrates his try in Wellington with Patrick Tuipulotu and Beauden Barrett. (Source: Photosport) Assistant coach Jason Ryan will be pleased with his lineout and excellent variation off the front which led to a score for Roigard, with Vaa'i finishing what was perhaps the try of the series and Savea overtaking Richie McCaw as New Zealand's leading try scoring forward in Test matches with 29 in total. ADVERTISEMENT They were solid in the set piece again and defensively far better than they were in Dunedin, where they leaked three tries, but if were there to be any complaints they may come from a second half which was even in terms of points – 14- all, the All Blacks scoring via Jordan, who scored his 41st try in 43 Tests, and Rieko Ioane. Le Garrec and Hastoy responded for the visitors but overall the All Blacks will be happy after wrapping up the series and attacking with an ambition that got almost immediate results. Lock Patrick Tuipulotu, a replacement for Scott Barrett after the skipper's torn calf suffered in Dunedin, was a solid performer, as was Codie Taylor again, with Vaa'i impressing again on the blindside flank – an experiment which must now be considered a success. Roigard constantly asked questions of the defence, with Beauden Barrett again solid in the No.10 jersey, centre Billy Proctor accurate, and Emoni Narawa shining as a late wing replacement for wing Clarke. It turned out to be a regulation victory for the home side thanks to their improved combinations against a green opposition and they will be favoured to put the French to the sword at Waikato Stadium next Saturday if Galthie decides to again go for a young line-up in the final Test. After getting so close and losing only 31-27 in Dunedin, it would represent a disappointing finish for the French but they will have their goals for this series and are unlikely to change them despite this setback. All Blacks 43 (Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea, Codie Taylor, Tupou Vaa'i, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane tries; Beauden Barrett 5 cons, pen, Jordie Barrett con) France 17 (Leo Barre, Josh Brennan tries; Nolann Le Garrec pen, con, Antoine Hastoy con) Halftime: 29-3
NZ Herald
9 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks player ratings: How they rated in second test win over France
13 - Billy Proctor - 7 Another go at centre and a much stronger showing at both ends of the field. Won a big defensive turnover. Had eight carries in the first half but did look a bit gassed near the break. Big tackle led to a turnover in second half. Finished with second most carries (12). 12 - Jordie Barrett - 7 Saved two tries, one in first half with cover defence out wide and also held up a try. How many times has he done that now in tests? Forced a pass that wasn't needed hot on attack, but that was the same tackle that saw him dumped on his head leading to a yellow for France. Off load to Proctor almost led to try. Showed his versatility again as happy to slot in at 10 with his brother in the bin. 11 - Rieko Ioane - 7 Good chase pressure all night. A slick pass to Holland in the lead up to the Vaa'i try. Solid defence including an intercept which denied French try. Much better attacking effort in second half, finished with 10 carries total, including a line break and a decent finish to score in the corner. 10 - Beauden Barrett - 6 Not great night with the boot. One out on the full and a few chasing kicks too long. Did produce a crafty chip for Ardie which turned the French around. A harsh yellow card. One fumble under high ball which led to a penalty. Put Jordan in for try but rarely got the chance to run in a kick-heavy test. 9 - Cam Roigard - 8 A strong boot all game especially from deep own end and from kickoff exits. Finished off the trick play for opening try. Finished with 56 running metes, a solid chunk from the try run. He even won a lineout. Superb outing. 8 - Christian Lio-Willie - 7 Won a ruck penalty which we haven't seen enough of from the back three so far. Had nine carries but was off after 54 minutes for Kirifi. 7 - Ardie Savea - 9 A monster effort for the full 80. The best on the field. Had an early knock on after a lineout steal. Assist in the Roigard try. Well sold. Scored the second try from lineout - all on his own. Strong run out wide in lead up to third try. 6 - Tupou Vaa'i - 7 Need to see more at six as he has impressed so far. Was leading All Blacks tackler with 13 when he left the field. Had a charge down early on and finished a great team try. Replaced after accidental head knock in second half. 5 - Fabian Holland - 7 Another superb outing. Was busy on defence early and got a lineout steal. Put under pressure at kickoff time but mostly did a good job. Seven carries in the first half including assist for Vaa'i try. Finished with 16 tackles, most for the All Blacks. 4 - Patrick Tuipulotu - 7 A welcomed return to test rugby. Was a safe option at lineout and had a steal in the first half. Made an impact with ball in hand, seven carries in the first half. Replaced after 60 minutes. 3 - Fletcher Newell - 7 Made eight tackles in first half and finished with 10. Scrum went from strength to strength. Replaced after 50 minutes 2 - Codie Taylor - 8 Vintage Taylor. Forced early knockout with France on attack. Was near perfect at lineout time, one lost deep in French half. Crafty with the close throw to Holland before Savea's try and scored himself from lineout drive. Even had a lineout steal. Replaced after 54 minutes. 1 - Ethan de Groot - 6 Put under pressure at first scrum but improved as match went on. Lost ball in contact inside French half but called back for high shot. Not a massive tackle count. Reserves Samisoni Taukei'aho - 4 Ollie Norris - 5 Pasilio Tosi - 5 Samipeni Finau -5 Du'Plessis Kirifi -4 Cortez Ratima -4 Timoci Tavatavanawai -6 Damian McKenzie - 5
