The reinforcement did not last twenty-four hours. Ofa Tu’ungafasi arrived in South Africa on Monday morning, called up urgently by Dave Rennie after Ethan de Groot suffered a concussion in the first Test against the Springboks. Named straight away at number 17 to face the Lions the next day, he was eventually withdrawn from the team through illness.

New Zealand’s injury list is starting to weigh on this 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 recalled to help out

At 34, Tu’ungafasi is no anonymous stopgap. Our records credit him with 287 professional matches and 18 tries, a body of work that explains why his is the first number dialled when the front row runs short.

The All Blacks still beat the Lions 41-35 on Tuesday, after trailing by eighteen points, and remain unbeaten on the tour. They face the Springboks again on Saturday in Cape Town, leading the series 1-0.