Coach Scott Robertson said on Sunday brothers Scott and Beauden Barrett will be fit for the Rugby Championship after his All Blacks completed a series sweep of “desperate” France.
Robertson was left to contemplate a sizeable injury list after New Zealand fought back in the second half to see off the physical tourists 29-19 in a tense third Test in Hamilton.
There was a positive prognosis for captain Scott Barrett, who missed the last two matches with a calf muscle complaint, and fly-half Beauden Barrett, who was omitted in Hamilton with a hand fracture.
It was the same injury that ruled star Auckland Blues playmaker Beauden Barrett out of Super Rugby action for a handful of weeks this season.
Robertson said he was confident both brothers will be available for the first two Rugby Championship Tests in Argentina, starting in Cordoba on August 17.
“Beauden’s going well. That was one of the reasons we pulled him out this week, to give him every chance to be available for that game,” Robertson told journalists on Sunday.
“Scott Barrett’s tracking really well. That rest has been great for him and in the last week he’s been training, so he’ll be available for Argentina.”
Dynamic back-rower Wallace Sititi was also likely to be fit, having been named for the France series but then withdrawn after undergoing minor ankle surgery.
Robertson was pleased with his team’s composure after making 10 starting changes from the side who comfortably won the second Test win in Wellington.
They gradually found their rhythm after France dominated to lead 19-10 late in the first half.
“The third game is always difficult mentally. You’ve got one team that’s chasing one and one’s trying to put it away,” Robertson said.
“You can see how desperate France were, they were spirited and tough, and we’re just pleased the guys we gave an opportunity to, took it.
“It was just a tough game of footy, good Test footy.”
Medical updates have been sought on three players injured in Hamilton — prop Tyrel Lomax (thumb), replacement scrum-half Noah Hotham (ankle) and back-rower Luke Jacobson, who injured his quad muscle in the warm-ups and didn’t play.
The first-choice pair of wing Caleb Clarke (ankle) and prop Tamaiti Williams (knee) look set to miss the Argentina trip but could be fit to play in two home Tests against South Africa in early September.
dgi/mtp
© Agence France-Presse
