By Joseph Pearson.
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett is poised to return for the mammoth challenge awaiting his side in South Africa in the next phase of the Rugby Championship.
Barrett missed the shock defeat to Argentina in Wellington and last Saturday night’s redemptive victory against the Pumas at Eden Park after needing surgery to heal an injured finger.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson confirmed the 72-test lock would travel to South Africa next week ahead of back-to-back tests against the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The 30-year-old’s imminent comeback was tempered by the revelation that another three forwards, experienced lock Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), loose forward Luke Jacobson (hamstring) and loosehead prop Ethan de Groot (neck), are still injury doubts.
Robertson said they didn’t yet know if the stricken trio would join their 36-man squad flying to South Africa. They will determine their readiness in the coming days.
The coach, speaking on Sunday morning, was in a jovial mood after his team hammered a hapless Pumas side 42-10 in Auckland in the best performance of his reign to date.
Barrett will assume the captaincy after Ardie Savea deputised as skipper for the Argentina tests and will be a welcome addition for when the All Blacks’ pack faces its ultimate test against the brutal Boks forwards. His presence in the lineout is needed, too.
“He’s good to go and how important to have your captain back for this tour. He’ll strap the pinky up and go at it, “Robertson said.
“He’s important, he’s a big body and that’s what you need over there.
“He’s been observing from the background a little bit, you know, it’s been Ardie’s team for the last couple of weeks, he’s been great.
[Barrett] has added little bits of bit of gold where he needs to in observing the team. It’s good to have him back on the field though.”
The Johannesburg match between New Zealand and South Africa will be the first time the teams have met since the Springboks beat the All Blacks 12-11 in the World Cup final last October in Paris.