All Blacks without Ardie in Melbourne

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The All Blacks are without star loose forward Ardie Savea for the opening Bledisloe Cup clash with the Wallabies in Melbourne.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster on Monday announced a squad of 33 players who will travel to Melbourne to face the Wallabies.

The squad is without loose forward Savea, who will remain at home to prepare for the birth of his child.

He is expected to return when the squad assembles for the second Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland on 24 September.

Loose forward Luke Jacobson is in line to add to his 12 Tests after being added as an injury replacement for Shannon Frizell. The blindsider suffered an injury to his ribs during the side’s win over Argentina in Hamilton.

Frizell joins Jack Goodhue (knee) and Patrick Tuipulotu (neck) on the list of injured players not available for selection next week.

Uncapped lock Josh Dickson has been officially released from the squad after coming in as injury cover and will rejoin Otago’s NPC squad. Meanwhile, Aidan Ross, Angus Ta’avao and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will also remain in New Zealand to play for their provinces in round six of the NPC.

Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

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Dylan Jack