All Blacks captain Scott Barrett ruled out of France series

In a significant setback for the All Blacks, captain Scott Barrett has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series against France due to a knee injury.

The announcement comes just days ahead of the second and final Test match in Wellington, forcing a last-minute change in leadership and team dynamics.

Barrett suffered the injury during the opening Test at Eden Park, a match the All Blacks won 25-16. While he continued playing through much of the game, post-match scans confirmed the injury was more serious than initially feared.

“Scott has been ruled out of the second Test with a knee injury, which is obviously disappointing for him and us,” confirmed All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.

“He’s our captain and an influential presence on and off the field. We’ll support him through his recovery process.”

The absence of Barrett sees Patrick Tuipulotu appointed the new All Blacks captain.

“Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the side in Scott’s absence, and we have absolute confidence in his ability to lead the team,” Robertson added.

Tuipulotu, an experienced campaigner with over 40 international appearances, is no stranger to leadership. He has previously captained the Blues in Super Rugby and served as a senior figure within the All Blacks camp.

With Barrett out, Tupou Vaa’i is expected to start alongside Tuipulotu in the second row. The coaching staff is also evaluating options for bench cover, with Samipeni Finau and Akira Ioane in contention.

The All Blacks lead the series 1-0 after their hard-fought win in Auckland with the second Test scheduled to be played on Saturday at Sky Stadium.