(Reuters) – All Blacks scrumhalf TJ Perenara will miss this weekend’s second test against England in Auckland because of an injury sustained in the series opener last Saturday.
Perenara, playing his first test since 2022, suffered the injury when his skipper Scott Barrett fell on his leg at a ruck and the 32-year-old had to be replaced at halftime of New Zealand’s 16-15 win in Dunedin.
Noah Hotham has been called up to replace Perenara in Scott Robertson’s squad, the uncapped 21-year-old Canterbury Crusaders scrumhalf joining fellow halfbacks Finlay Christie and Cortez Ratima, who has also yet to play a test.
Christie looks the likely starter in Saturday’s second test as the All Blacks aim to retain an unbeaten record at Eden Park that goes back to 1994.
England will also be forced to make a change for the match after experienced loosehead prop Joe Marler was ruled out of the clash.
Fin Baxter, who came off the bench to make his debut in place of Marler in Dunedin, or Bevan Rodd are likely to start in Auckland as uncapped squad replacement Emmanuel Iyogun will not arrive in New Zealand until Tuesday.
Perenara has not yet been ruled out of New Zealand’s third test in the international window against Fiji in San Diego on July 19.
“Following scans, we are seeking specialist advice on return to play timeframes,” the team said in a social media post.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
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