Kaino in line for recall as Hansen rests six

WELLINGTON: Veteran loose forward Jerome Kaino is in line for an All Blacks recall after missing the opening four rounds of the Rugby Championship due to a “personal issue”.

The 34-year-old dual World Cup winner played all three tests against the British and Irish Lions but flew home to New Zealand shortly before the Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Sydney.

New Zealand Rugby said at the time that an Australian media report about his private life had necessitated his return to Auckland.

Kaino has been included in a 28-man tour squad for the September 30 clash in Buenos Aires along with flanker Matt Todd and lock Patrick Tuipulotu.

Hansen has rested locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, loose forwards Liam Squire and Sam Cane, and backs Beauden Barrett and Ryan Crotty for the match.

Another group will return home after Argentina and ahead of the final away match against the Springboks as the All Blacks staff look to manage players’ workloads.

“We struggled at times last year, this is the hardest time of the year for us, so we are just trying to think outside the box and think of ways to keep the players fresh,” Hansen said yesterday.

“This also gives us a chance to build player depth and experience.

“It puts a lot of pressure on us going to Argentina because they are a good side and we’ll need to play well to perform there, but we’re confident that the group we are taking there will be able to do the job.”

Kaino returned to training last week but missed the match at North Harbour Stadium where the All Blacks subjected South Africa to their worst test defeat.

The All Blacks are undefeated after four rounds of the Rugby Championship and can successfully defend their title with victory over the winless Pumas.

Organisers of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan have not made sufficient progress in key areas and must pick up the pace of preparations, Tournament Director Alan Gilpin has said.

Gilpin and his team evaluated operational areas, team services, venues, ticketing, tournament budgets and host city operations for the September 20-November 2 2019 tournament.

“There are areas where the organising committee has not progressed as much as we would expect by this stage,” Gilpin said.

Tomorrow marks the twoyear countdown for the event and Japan will mark the milestone by parading the Webb Ellis Cup in 12 host cities and the country’s Top League clubs over 46 days. – Reuters