The comeback did not last twenty-four hours. According to RugbyPass, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who arrived in South Africa on Monday morning, has been withdrawn from the team to face the Lions through illness. He was due to wear the number 17 shirt the very next evening.
The 34-year-old prop had been called up urgently by Dave Rennie after Ethan de Groot suffered a concussion in the first Test, won 33-16 against the Springboks. Above all, it reopened a door for him: he had not played in black since the 2024 autumn tour, a neck injury having derailed his 2025 season.
Xavier Numia replaces him on the bench. The change comes at a heavy cost in experience: New Zealand’s reserve front row loses 66 caps in one go.
An injury list weighing on the tour
As well as de Groot and lock Josh Lord, both in concussion protocols, New Zealand have already sent home George Bell, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clark and Ollie Norris, all ruled out for the rest of the trip. Back rower Anton Segner has also left the squad after ankle surgery.
A veteran whose body of work makes him indispensable
Our records credit Tu’ungafasi with 287 professional matches and 18 tries. That body of work explains why his is the first number dialled when the front row runs short, even after two seasons away from the national side.
The All Blacks still beat the Lions 41-35 on Tuesday at Ellis Park, after trailing by eighteen points, and remain unbeaten on the tour. They face the Springboks again on Saturday, leading the series 1-0.
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