New Zealand are sweating on the fitness of no less than nine players ahead of their Rugby Championship double header against Argentina, starting 16 August.
Head coach Scott Robertson will name his squad for the games against Los Pumas in August, but they could be without some key players.
New Zealand defeated France 3-0 in their mid-year series but it came at a cost as Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Clarke, Luke Jacobson and Noah Hotham all picked up injuries.
Wallace Sititi and Tamaiti Williams were ruled out before those Tests even began, which forced the head coach to tinker with his line-up.
Five individuals face a race against time to be fit for the Rugby Championship, but the news is worse for the other four.
They are very hopeful over Vaa’i and fly-half Barrett, who suffered a concussion and a fractured hand respectively, with them set to be available in two weeks’ time.
It is a bit less certain for three others – captain Barrett, Sititi and Williams – although they will be fit enough to be named in the All Blacks’ wider squad for the Argentina tour and therefore should recover in time for the first Test.
Three weeks is their estimated return date, which is the weekend of the opening match of the tournament against the Argentinians in Cordoba.
Definitely ruled out, however, are Lomax, Clarke, Jacobson and Hotham, who will miss at least two games in the upcoming competition.
The tighthead in particular has become a crucial player for the All Blacks but, after suffering a fractured hand, he is a doubt for the huge Eden Park game against the Springboks on September 6.
Clarke and Jacobson have similar expected recovery periods to Lomax, having picked up ankle and thigh injuries, respectively.
As for Hotham, he could well miss the entire Rugby Championship with surgery needed for an ankle issue sustained during the French series.
Robertson will therefore need a replacement in that third scrum-half spot, which potentially brings Finlay Christie back into contention.
Christie has not played for the All Blacks since the home England Tests last July and is reportedly considering an overseas switch, with Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons a possible destination, but he could get a recall.
Folau Fakatava is another name in the mix while Robertson could also consider Xavier Roe, Sam Nock or Hotham’s back-up at the Crusaders, Kyle Preston.
