Lord and Plummer Join All Blacks Tour After Injury Shakeup

Josh Lord and Harry Plummer remain in the All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship tour of South Africa due to injuries to Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta. Lord and Plummer were drafted in for tests against Argentina, with Lord getting game time due to other injuries within the squad.

Lock Josh Lord and utility back Harry Plummer will remain in the All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship tour of South Africa, as Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta continue to recover from injuries. Lord and Plummer were initially called in as injury cover for the New Zealand squad's two tests against Argentina on home soil, after lock Tuipulotu and fullback Perofeta both suffered calf injuries.

Lord, who played off the bench in both matches against the Pumas, stepped up due to a finger injury to skipper Scott Barrett. The team lost in Wellington but secured a win in Auckland. Hopes are high that Barrett will be fit to face the world champion Springboks in the Johannesburg and Cape Town tests, which will likely decide the southern hemisphere championship winner.

Loose forward Luke Jacobson and loosehead prop Ethan de Groot will both travel to South Africa despite dealing with hamstring and neck injuries, respectively. Plummer is one of two uncapped players in the squad, along with outside back Ruben Love.

(With inputs from agencies.)