Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Find your frequency hereAll Blacks lock Tuipulotu ruled out of Rugby Championship, Lienert-Brown returning to NZ
AP • August 19th, 2025 12:30 pm
Patrick Tuipulotu | Photo: Photospor
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu will miss New Zealand's second Rugby Championship Test against Argentina after being taken to hospital in the wake of their 41-24 win over the Pumas.
The veteran second-row forward sustained a head knock after replacing skipper Scott Barrett in the 56th minute in Cordoba last Saturday.
Subsequent scans revealed a minor facial fracture, which will require surgery on his return to New Zealand. Tuipulotu did not experience a concussion and his expected return to play has been placed at approximately 6 weeks post-surgery.
Midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown left the field in Cordoba after failing his HIA test on the night and is going through concussion protocols to determine his return to play date, but is unavailable for the second Test and will join his teammate on the flight home on Tuesday.
Assistant coach Jason Ryan said Scott Barrett had been withdrawn from the contest to manage his return from an achilles injury, and would be fit for Sunday's clash in Buenos Aires.
Fabian Holland, who started alongside Barrett in the second row, has also been given a clean bill of health despite being taken off with cramp late in the Cordoba clash.
Justin Marshall assesses the All Blacks' performance in Rugby Championship opener vs Pumas | The Bunnings Trade Rugby Run
Ryan said No. 8 Wallace Sititi and loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams could be available for Sunday's match after missing New Zealand's tournament-opener as they continue to recover from ankle and knee operations respectively.
"We have got some decent selection decisions ... because the people in those positions are playing pretty well. That's healthy," Ryan said.
The hard-fought victory over Argentina, combined with Australia's stunning upset of world champions South Africa, will send the All Blacks back to the top of the world rankings for the first time since 2021.
The Springboks will drop from the top spot they have occupied for most of the past five years to third behind Ireland. The Wallabies will remain in sixth behind France and England.
"It just shows you how tough Test footy is, how close it is, and the margins," head coach Scott Robertson said in a post-match news conference in Cordoba.
"We're pleased we're No. 1, but our sights will probably be more set on next week's match than rankings."
Is it time to move on from the Barrett/Proctor All Blacks midfield? | The Bunnings Trade Rugby Run
