Beauden Barrett to return as All Blacks' Northern Tour hits injury roadblock

Fly-half Beauden Barrett is set to rejoin the All Blacks squad for their Northern Hemisphere tour, despite the team coping with a series of injuries.

Barrett missed the recent win over Australia in Perth due to a shoulder problem but has been cleared to play in the November 1 Test against Ireland in Chicago.

Winger Caleb Clarke and prop Ethan de Groot are also expected to make their returns from injury. However, the squad will be without lock Tupou Vaa’i, wing Emoni Narawa, scrum-half Noah Hotham, and prop Tyrel Lomax.

Lomax requires surgery on a broken thumb, while Vaa’i may undergo a knee surgery after a setback in training.

After facing Ireland, New Zealand will continue their Grand Slam tour with matches against Scotland in Edinburgh, England at Twickenham, and Wales in Cardiff.

The All Blacks finished second in this year’s Rugby Championship behind South Africa, who secured back-to-back titles.