Counting the toll: Confronting injury numbers for All Blacks ahead of Northern Tour

Dave Rennie has faced plenty of adversity in his first season in charge of the All Blacks, but his greatest challenge may be managing the team’s extensive injury toll ahead of the Northern Tour. 

When Du’Plessis Kirifi stepped onto the field midway through the second half of the 43-21 Bledisloe Cup win in Sydney, the loose forward became the 52nd player to wear the black jersey across nine tests and four tour matches this year. 

Compare that to Rennie’s predecessor Scott Robertson who, in his two seasons in charge of the All Blacks, used 42 players in his first year, 45 in his second for a grand total of 52 across 27 tests. 

Many players Rennie would consider his starters, including captain Ardie Savea have sustained season-ending injuries, meaning the selectors will be required to go deep down the depth chart when naming their squad for the final four tests of the year, taking place in the UK next month. 

Rennie will take a likely 36-man squad to face Scotland, Wales, England and a still-to-be-determined Northern Hemisphere side depending on where the All Blacks finish in the Nations Championship standings. As things stand, they would face Scotland again. 

Rennie will name his squad, likely next week after the NPC final. 

Here is everything we know about the All Blacks’ casualty ward and who is a chance of featuring and who won’t play at all. 

Props 

Ollie Norris – out for the season 

The three-test front rower was initially only expected to miss six weeks after suffering a cartilage injury in his knee during the tour of South Africa, but has since been ruled out for the rest of the year. 

Tamaiti Williams – out for the season 

The powerful Crusaders prop hasn’t been sighted since February after being diagnosed with discitis – an infection in one of the discs in his spine. He has been undergoing treatment and there is no indication on when he will return. 

Players used this season in the position: Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Ollie Norris, Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma’u. 

All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua. Photo / Photosport 

Hooker 

Asafo Aumua – Set to return 

The Hurricanes Super Rugby champion failed an injury assessment during the All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup win in Auckland – his second of the season and has been serving a minimum 12-day stand-down. The slight cause for concern for him is that he has a history of concussions. 

Samisoni Taukei’aho – In doubt 

The All Blacks hooker was forced from the field with tightness in his calf during the Bledisloe Cup win over the Wallabies in Sydney and is currently awaiting results from a scan to determine the severity of the injury. 

Players used this season in the position: Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Bradley Slater. 

Lock 

Patrick Tuipulotu – In contention 

The Blues captain missed the two Bledisloe Cup matches with a calf strain that was set to sideline him for four to six weeks. He will likely be touch and go for the Northern Tour. 

Players used this season in the position: Josh Lord, Sam Darry, Jamie Hannah, Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett. 

All Blacks Ethan Blackadder picked up a calf injury during warmups ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup test. Photo / Smartframe 

Loose forwards 

Shannon Frizell – In doubt 

In his second test back for the All Blacks, Frizell picked up a non-contact knee injury during the Bledisloe Cup win in Sydney. He is awaiting scan results, but there is always cause for concern for injuries of that nature. 

Anton Segner – Set to feature 

The German-born star made his return to play during the Bledisloe Cup win in Auckland having had an infection in his ankle joint. But against the Wallabies he failed his second head injury assessment and has been serving his mandatory stand-down. 

Luke Jacobson – Out for the season 

The Chiefs captain has embraced his starting role for the All Blacks, but his time in the No 7 jersey came to an abrupt end after injuring an elbow tendon during the third test against the Springboks in Johannesburg. 

Ethan Blackadder – In doubt 

The Crusaders star’s return to the All Blacks has been one of this year’s feel-good stories, but once again he can’t catch a break after suffering another calf injury. Blackadder’s history of calf problems makes the setback especially concerning, as does the fact he was injured during the warm-up for the first Bledisloe Cup test despite not being named to play. 

Ardie Savea – Out for the season 

The All Blacks skipper dislocated his shoulder during the brutal third Springboks test and has undergone surgery in a bid to be fit and fighting for the 2027 campaign. 

Players used this season in the position: Peter Lakai, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Anton Segner, Simon Parker, Ethan Blackadder, Semisi Ta’eiloa, Shannon Frizell, Du’Plessis Kirifi. 

Halfbacks 

Luckily for the All Blacks, there are no injuries in this department, although Cortez Ratima has spent some time on the sidelines during the test campaign. 

Players used this season in the position: Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Kyle Preston, Noah Hotham. 

Richie Mo'unga injured himself during a training session at North Harbour Stadium. Photo / Photosport 

First five-eighths 

Richie Mo’unga – In doubt 

Mo’unga’s return to life in New Zealand has been far from perfect and it was even more difficult as he picked up a calf injury during an All Blacks training session. Rennie admits the 32-year-old is in serious doubt for the northern tour, with a six-to-eight-week timeframe being placed on his return to play. 

Ruben Love – Out for the season 

The Hurricanes playmaker has been battling an ankle injury for most of the season, but has been able to manage the pain. But he has since undergone surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the year. 

Players used this season in the position: Ruben Love, Josh Jacomb, Richie Mo’unga, Damian McKenzie. 

Midfielders 

Jordie Barrett – Set to return 

After producing arguably the best test of his career in the Bledisloe Cup win in Auckland, Barrett was a late scratching from the clash in Sydney due to calf tightness, which appears to be more precautionary than anything. 

Quinn Tupaea – Set to return 

Tupaea was feeling worse for wear after hitting his head hard on the turf in the opening exchanges of the Bledisloe Cup test at Accor Stadium. 

Billy Proctor – Out of the season 

The luckless centre’s campaign was brought to an early end after fracturing his shoulder blade during the tour match against the Stormers in Cape Town. 

Anton Lienert-Brown – Just returned 

The veteran missed the initial Bledisloe Cup squad after suffering an MCL injury in Baltimore - listed as a likely 4-6 week injury stand-down. He was called in as injury cover for the Sydney test but wasn’t named in the squad, despite the late withdrawal of Barrett. 

Players used this season in the position: Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane. 

Leicester Fainga’anuku. Photo / Photosport 

Outside backs 

Caleb Clarke – Out for the season 

The powerful winger has been scratched for the rest of the year after rupturing a tendon in his shoulder during the tour match against the Sharks. 

Leicester Fainga’anuku – Set to return 

While he has been back playing, injuries have prevented Fainga’anuku from getting time in the black jersey after having a fibula fracture and high ankle sprain which saw him miss both the July tests and tour of South Africa. 

Fehi Fineanganofo - In doubt 

The one-test winger has been battling with injuries for most of the campaign, but his latest will have him in doubt for the upcoming tour. Along with having completed a head injury assessment he also picked up an upper hamstring injury while playing for Bay of Plenty in the NPC. 

Leroy Carter – Out for the season 

The winger sustained a high ankle injury while attempting to score in the opening Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies. He has since undergone surgery. 

Players used this season in the position: Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Fehi Fineanganofo, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Emoni Narawa, Chay Fihaki. 

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.