Jordie Barrett dives over but the try is disallowed. Wallabies v New Zealand All Blacks, 2024 Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup test match, Accor Stadium, NSW, Australia, Saturday 21st September 2024, Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: David Neilson
All Blacks midfielder Jordie Barrett will miss this weekend's return test against Australia in Wellington.
Scans on Barrett's knee confirmed medial collateral ligament damage suffered in the 31-28 win in Sydney.
He will be reassessed before a call is made on whether or not to include him on the end of year tour of Japan and Europe in October and November.
Anton Lienert-Brown replaced Barrett at for the second half at Stadium Australia last weekend and is likely to do so again for New Zealand's final test of the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
David Havili is the other specialist midfield option in Scott Robertson's squad.
With outside back Ruben Love also unavailable because of a thigh injury, the All Blacks on Monday called uncapped utility Chay Fihaki into the squad as backline cover.
Will Jordan was moved to fullback at the last moment in Sydney when Beauden Barrett was too sick to play.
Beauden Barrett is expected to be available for Saturday's game.
Tighthead prop Fletcher Newell has also returned to the squad after missing the trip to Australia with a calf injury sustained when he come off the bench in the second test against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this month.
All Blacks v Wallabies, Bledisloe II.
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday, 28 September (NZT)
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live updates on RNZ Sport
- RNZ with Reuters