The All Blacks are managing Jordie Barrett carefully in the build-up to Saturday's Nations Championship Test against Ireland at Eden Park, with the influential centre nursing a leg injury but still expected to feature.
Barrett, 80 Tests into his international career, sat out New Zealand's training session at North Harbour Stadium on Tuesday, working through drills in a tracksuit alongside Will Jordan and the midfield group rather than taking a full part.
"He's just carrying a bit of an injury so we're just being cautious with him," said All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair. "He's been really important for us the last couple of games, the last few years as well. Just making sure that he gets up to 100 per cent."
The 29-year-old returned to New Zealand this year after a season with Leinster and steered the Hurricanes to the Super Rugby Pacific title. He has played close to 140 minutes across the All Blacks' opening two Tests of the Dave Rennie era, including last week's 47-17 win over Italy.
That victory came at a cost. Wing Leroy Carter suffered a shoulder injury, prompting the recall of Rieko Ioane, who had surprisingly been left out of the original 34-man squad after his own sabbatical at Leinster. "It just gives us a bit of outside back cover," Rennie said of the call-up.
Rennie also confirmed that former captain Scott Barrett will not be rushed back from a back problem requiring surgery, while lock Fabian Holland will prove his fitness in the National Provincial Championship. "It will just be nice for him to get some game time in for Otago and then hopefully be available," the head coach said. Luke Jacobson and Patrick Tuipulotu are both on track to feature, and New Zealand media expect Tupou Vaa'i to shift to the blindside flank, reshaping the second row.
Ireland have received a boost of their own. Wing Robert Baloucoune, who missed the tour opener against Australia with a hamstring injury, trained fully at King's College in Auckland on Tuesday and is set to be available, as is prop Jeremy Loughman.
Baloucoune's return has left Andy Farrell's staff with selection headaches across the back three. "The form obviously comes into it," said Ireland attack coach Andrew Goodman. "There's been some guys, like you say, Jimmy [O'Brien], there was much improved performance from him from Australia to Japan."
Goodman welcomed the competition. "It's a shame he pulled up with an injury, but he's charging around training again today. It creates a healthy dilemma for us as coaches and some good discussions."
The fixture carries added weight given Eden Park's status as the game's most forbidding venue: New Zealand have not lost a Test there since 1994. Ireland, chasing a first win on the ground, are trying not to get ahead of themselves. Asked about the record, Goodman was dismissive: "There's been no mention of it. It feels like we're just getting started."
