Senior All Blacks lock, Sam Whitelock is in doubt for the second Bledisloe test in Auckland after copping a head knock in Wellington while playmakers Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga are both nursing less serious injury niggles.
Assistant coach John Plumtree confirms the All Blacks were working through fitness concerns around all three leading into Sunday’s second straight matchup against the Wallabies, with Whitelock’s situation the most serious.
Plumtree says Scott Barrett is available to be selected this week as he has fully recovered from the foot injury.
Plumtree says midfielder Ngani Laumpape, who had rejoined the All Blacks following a spell out with a broken wrist, was not yet available for selection. Highlanders first five-eighth Josh Ioane was also training with the squad in Auckland as part of a planned rotation of extra players spending time in the camp.
The All Blacks team will be named this Friday.
The All Blacks will face the Wallabies at 3pm this Sunday.
