Overview

• Timoci Tavatavanawai is out for about 12 weeks with a fractured radius requiring surgery, ruling him out of the Rugby Championship.
• Leicester Fainga'anuku has been added as his replacement with NZR approval and is available for selection at Eden Park.
• Cam Roigard and Noah Hotham are listed 3–4 weeks from return and will miss both South Africa Tests, while Cortez Ratima is still being assessed after a rib fracture.
• Finlay Christie and uncapped Kyle Preston are the fit halfbacks, with Xavier Roe brought into the Auckland camp as injury cover.
• Anton Lienert-Brown and Tyrel Lomax have rejoined the squad, Patrick Tuipulotu is about four weeks from return after facial surgery, Sam Darry is in as cover, Caleb Clarke and Luke Jacobson are tracking for the second Test, and George Bower has not assembled following Tamaiti Williams’ recovery.