For the second week in succession, the All Blacks have been dealt an injury blow on the wing, with Rieko Ioane ruled out of Saturday’s third and final test against France.
Initially named to wear the No 11 jersey, 28-year-old Ioane has been scratched from the starting side to takethe field in Hamilton with a tight hamstring.
As a result, the All Blacks’ backline will go through another reshuffle.
Sevu Reece will shift to the left wing, while Will Jordan returns to the starting side on the right after being named on the bench.
The move sees Jordan return to the wing, where he’s played the majority of his 43 tests, after seizing the chance to become coach Scott Robertson’s first-choice fullback.
Plans to give Jordie Barrett a rest have been scuppered after his involvement in the first two test matches, as he is named on the bench.
The All Blacks’ wing stocks, having only named two specialists, have been tested across all three tests of this series.
In Dunedin, Reece failed a head injury assessment (HIA) in the opening minute of the All Blacks’ win, forcing a reshuffle that saw Jordan move outward and Damian McKenzie asked to play 79 minutes at fullback.
