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All Blacks call up Chiefs prop Tu'inukuafe

A spate of injuries to All Blacks props candidates has opened the door to rapidly rising Chiefs loosehead Karl Tu'inukuafe.

Rookie Chiefs prop Karl Tu'inukuafe is the seventh uncapped player called into the All Blacks squad, capitalising on injuries to a host of rival props.

A hamstring injury suffered by Tim Perry during an All Blacks training run on Tuesday has allowed 25-year-old Tu'inukuafe to continue a dizzying rise.

Having failed to earn a Super Rugby contract in 2018, he made a series of reserve bench appearances for the Chiefs following injuries to their Test props, Kane Hames, Atu Moli and Nepo Laulala.

A broken ankle to Aidan Ross a month ago handed a first start to Tu'inukuafe, who has been a cog in one of the strongest scrums in the competition.

He will join the All Blacks squad at a camp in Christchurch next week as they build towards the three-Test home series against France in June.

His promotion encapsulates the thinning looshead options available to Steve Hansen because of injuries and the international retirement of Crusaders loosehead Wyatt Crockett.

Perry was one of six uncapped players in the initial group of 32 announced on Sunday.

The others were midfield back Jack Goodhue, five-eighth Richie Mo'unga, halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and loose forwards Jordan Taufua and Shannon Frizell.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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