The All Blacks have lost hooker George Bell to a calf strain sustained during training in Cape Town on Sunday, with Bell now returning to New Zealand for rehabilitation. His expected return-to-play timeline of four to six weeks rules him out of the entire South African tour.
Bradley Slater, who made the move from the Chiefs to the Blues ahead of the 2025 season and earned All Blacks XV honours in both 2024 and 2025, has been called up as replacement and is due to arrive in South Africa on Wednesday.
The injury compounds a difficult preparation for the All Blacks, with stand-in tour captain Codie Taylor also managing a calf injury and in a race to be fit for Friday's opening match against the Stormers at DHL Newlands. Taylor, who is captaining the side in place of the rested Ardie Savea, said he is back running and confident of being available.
"It's not ideal when you come over and you do it and then you've got a tour to get stuck into. But the physios have been good. I'm back running and stuff now," Taylor said.
Taylor was candid about the scale of the challenge facing the touring side. "South Africa at home is probably the biggest challenge that we'll face in our rugby careers."
Head coach Dave Rennie expressed sympathy for Bell, noting the hooker has had a disrupted period with injury. Slater, who hails from a family with strong All Blacks ties — his uncle Gordon earned six caps including three tests — will slot into a squad that can ill afford further attrition in the front row.