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Beauden Barrett has been ruled out of the Bledisloe Cup opener due to an Achilles injury.
All Blacks star Beauden Barrett has been ruled out of Sunday’s Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies with a minor Achilles tendon injury.
Damian McKenzie will now start at fullback.
Barrett was named at No. 15 on Friday by new All Blacks coach Ian Foster, and his younger brother Jordie was named to start as a winger despite starring in Super Rugby this year and the NPC as a fullback.
ALEX LIU / THINGS
All Blacks coach Ian Foster says the more Jordie Barrett can get into the game, the better.
But instead of moving Jordie Barrett into the custodial role, Foster and his selection group have chosen to use Waiakto’s McKenzie for the first test of 2020.
TAKE A LOOK
All the black people: Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuungafasi, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Dane Coles, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke.
MORE TO COME
