New Zealand call up replacements after concussion injuries in first test

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 : New Zealand have called up veteran prop forward Ofa Tu’ungafasi and promising lock Jamie Hannah to their tour squad in South Africa as injury replacements for Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord, who were hurt in Saturday's first test win over the Springboks in Johannesburg, the New Zealand Rugby Union said.

De Groot and Lord went off near the end of the first half of the All Blacks' 33-16 win at Ellis Park after blows to the head and must go through the World Rugby concussion protocols, likely ruling them out of next week's second test in Cape Town.

The 34-year-old Tu’ungafasi, who played at the last two World Cups for the All Blacks, and Hannah, who won his first cap as a late injury replacement against France in the Nations Championship last month, will leave New Zealand on Sunday to arrive in South Africa on Monday, the NZRU said.

New Zealand have already brought in four replacements in the first fortnight of their six-week, eight-match tour of South Africa, where they have won the opening four matches.