All Blacks captain Scott Barrett on target to play Argentina, but Tyrel Lomax ruled out
Monday, 28 July 2025
All Blacks tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax's hand injury will rule him out of the first two Rugby Championship tests against Argentina, but captain Scott Barrett and playmaker Beauden Barrett are on target to be available.
The All Blacks have confirmed Lomax, who required surgery for a hand fracture, is estimated to be allowed to return to play in five to six weeks - too late to be considered to play the Pumas.
Lomax, who hurt his hand in the third test against France in Hamilton on July 19, may also be racing the clock to be fit to play the Springboks in Auckland on September 6.
Lock Scott Barrett tore a calf muscle in the first test against France in Dunedin on July 5, which ruled him out of the following tests in Wellington and Hamilton.
Barrett is estimated to be fit to play in three weeks.
The All Blacks' opening game of the championship will be against the Pumas in Mendoza on August 17.
The second test is in Buenos Aires a week later.
First five-eighth and test centurion Beauden Barrett suffered what the All Blacks have called a “subtle hand re-fracture’’ during the French series but is said to be healing well.
His estimated return to play is two weeks.
Halfback Noah Hotham will require surgery for a high ankle sprain and could be out for up to eight weeks. He suffered the injury in the latter stages of the third test in Hamilton.
Loose forward Luke Jacobson is also expected to be unavailable for five weeks because of a thigh injury. He injured himself in the warm-ups in Hamilton.
No 8 Wallace Sititi is said to be making a swift recovery from the ankle surgery that ruled him out of the French series and should be playing in three weeks.
The same time-line has been provided for versatile prop Tamaiti Williams who was also ruled out of the series because of a torn meniscus in his knee.
Blindside flaker/lock Tupou Vaa’i is going through concussion protocols and should return in two weeks.
Left wing Caleb Clarke never played the French after injury an ankle at training in Wellington. He could take up to six weeks to recover before being available for action.
Meanwhile, Anton Lienert-Brown, Brodie McAlister, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Pasilio Tosi, Emoni Narawa, Christian Lio-Willie, Dalton Papali’i and Ruben Love will be available for their provinces in the opening round of the NPC.
The NPC kicks off when Auckland host a Waikato side that may be bolstered by Lienert-Brown on Thursday night.
Wellington and Canterbury will have Love and McAlister, respectively, at their disposal when they face off at Porirua Park on Saturday; then Lio-Willie may feature for Otago when they take on Southland at Invercargill Rugby Park later in the day.
Sunday’s two matches will feature Narawa and Tosi for Bay of Plenty, Timoci Tavatavanawai for Tasman and Dalton Papali’i for Counties-Manukau.