The All Blacks will need to make further changes to their squad following the Rugby Championship after four players were ruled out of the tour.<\/b><\/p>\n
New Zealand have struggled with injuries throughout 2025 and going into their final round of the competition against the Wallabies they were forced into several alterations.<\/p>\n
Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Tyrel Lomax and Ethan de Groot, who were all taken off in the Eden Park victory, were replaced by Damian McKenzie, Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku, Fletcher Newell and Tamaiti Williams respectively on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Tupou Vaa\u2019i was also a late withdrawal, leading to Fabian Holland\u2019s inclusion in Perth, and the lock is set to miss the rest of the campaign in a blow for both the player and the All Blacks.<\/a><\/p>\n Vaa\u2019i\u2019s reaction<\/p>\n \u201cAs much as I want to go to war for my country. Our man above has other plans,\u201d Vaa\u2019i wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure my footy for 2025 is done. Time to spend time with family and to get better for Super season 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cTore my meniscus which I don\u2019t know how long my recovery will take.\u201d<\/p>\n There is better news on Barrett, who is \u201cfine for the end of the year\u201d according to head coach Scott Robertson<\/a>, while Clarke and De Groot will rejoin the squad.<\/p>\n However, Robertson will need to find a replacement for Tyrel Lomax, who needs surgery on a broken thumb, and of course Vaa\u2019i.<\/p>\n \u201cHe (Vaa\u2019i) clicked his knee the week before. He got through training but then he stood up and it locked on him. He\u2019ll see the surgeon now so it\u2019s tough for him, he\u2019s been in good form,\u201d the All Blacks boss told reporters.<\/p>\n