The All Blacks have suffered a setback ahead of their four-Test showdown with South Africa, with one player sent home and another called into the squad for the first time.
George Bell was one of 10 additional players brought in by New Zealand for the Greatest Rivalry Tour, which will see Dave Rennie's side take on the Springboks in four matches while also facing the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks. However, the hooker's time in South Africa has ended up being short-lived.
The Crusaders front-rower has been forced to fly home after suffering a calf strain which is set to rule him out of action for between four and six weeks.
Replacement called up
With the opening clash with the Springboks now less than three weeks away, Bell has been replaced in the squad by Blues hooker Bradley Slater, who has represented the All Blacks XV but remains uncapped at Test level.
Slater represented Taranaki in the second-tier National Provincial Championship last weekend and, after answering Rennie's call, is now set to join up with the national squad in Cape Town on Wednesday.
A press release issued by the All Blacks read: "All Blacks hooker, George Bell, will return home from South Africa after suffering a calf strain during training in Cape Town on Sunday."
"Bell's return to play is expected to be four to six weeks, so he will return to New Zealand to rehabilitate. Taranaki and Blues hooker Bradley Slater has been called into the squad and is due to arrive on Wednesday."
Coach's reaction
New Zealand boss Dave Rennie said he was "gutted" to see Bell fly home, with the hooker's injury the latest in a run of recent frustrating setbacks.
"We are all gutted for George, to be ruled out of the tour so early," the head coach said. "He’s had a frustrating past few months with injury so it’s a real blow for him to have injured his calf again."
"We look forward to seeing him return via the NPC and put himself in a position to push for All Blacks selection later in the year."
Tour schedule
New Zealand kick off their tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday evening, with clashes against the Sharks and Bulls in Durban and Pretoria next week.
The first Test against the Springboks will come in Johannesburg on August 22, with a midweek meeting with the Lions followed by two more Test matches with South Africa in Cape Town and Johannesburg again.
Finally, it's off to the United States, with a bumper fourth Test match being played at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on September 12.
