All Blacks welcome veteran Kaino back

– Veteran loose forward Jerome Kaino (right) 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 against Argentina in Buenos Aires along with flanker Matt Todd and lock Pat-

Wellington

rick Tuipulotu.

Following the All Blacks’ record 57-0 humiliation of South Africa on Saturday, coach 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 Pumas match.

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

“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 in a media release yesterday. – Reuters