'This is hugely disappointing': All Blacks smashed by injuries on eve of tour
The All Blacks have been smashed by injuries on the eve of their gruelling northern hemisphere tour with three loose forwards ruled out on Wednesday.
Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (thumb) and Dalton Papali'i (hamstring) will all be grounded in New Zealand when the team flies out to Japan on Thursday.
Blackadder and Jacobson both played in Saturday's NPC quarter-finals for Tasman and Waikato respectively.
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Ethan Blackadder, Nepo Laulala, Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali'i. Getty
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson announced Wellington loose forward Peter Lakai and Taranaki lock Josh Lord as replacements with the possibility of adding a third at a later date.
"This is hugely disappointing for Ethan, Luke and Dalton, but we know they will be working on recovering well with a view to making themselves available again as soon as possible," Robertson said.
"This opens up opportunities for some other players though. We are excited to be welcoming Josh back into the group and giving Peter Lakai his chance to wear the All Blacks jersey."
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Peter Lakai of the Hurricanes warms up in Wellington. Getty
The All Blacks open their tour against a Japan side coached by Eddie Jones in Yokohama on October 26.
Tests against England, Ireland, France and Italy follow.
"We will assess the status of Ethan, Luke and Dalton's injuries prior to travelling to England, to determine whether we are going to require that additional injury cover," Robertson said.
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ALL BLACKS SQUAD: Scott Barrett (c), Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Cam Roigard, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a
