New Zealand forced into prop change for S Africa tour

New Zealand prop Ethan de Groot has been ruled out of the two Rugby Championship tests in South Africa after sustaining a neck injury, officials said on Friday, and will be replaced in the squad by George Bower.

De Groot, 26, was taken off after 59 minutes of the 38-30 defeat to Argentina in Wellington on Aug. 10 and did not feature against the same opposition a week later as New Zealand won 42-10.

Bower, 32, played the first of his 21 tests in 2021 but was not part of the original squad to tour South Africa named by new coach Scott Robinson.

He missed much of 2023 with a serious knee injury.

New Zealand take on the world champions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Aug. 31 and a week later in Cape Town.

South Africa have a maximum 10 points from their opening two wins over Australia, five more than New Zealand.