Uncapped Patrick Osborne added to All Blacks squad
Highlanders winger provides extra cover for this weekend’s Rugby Championship decider in Sydney
Uncapped winger Patrick Osborne has been called into the extended All Blacks squad for this weekend's Rugby Championship decider against Australia in Sydney and the second Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies in Auckland the following week.
Scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow also returns in place of the experienced Andy Ellis and will be desperate to get back into test rugby after missing the Super Rugby season because of a knee injury.
With Waisake [Naholo] out three months and Cory [Jane] still struggling with his injury, we just wanted to make sure we had someone else that has been in the environment
Centre Ma'a Nonu was included in the squad despite a shoulder injury suffered in the victory over the Springboks that could yet rule him out of Saturday's match at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.
"We're not going to risk him if he's not right. There's a big season ahead, and we've got plenty of cover there so we'll see how it goes," said coach Steve Hansen.
Fly-half Dan Carter and centre Sonny Bill Williams return after being rested for the trip to South Africa, while Charlie Faumuina was among seven props named in the squad as he continues his recovery from neck surgery.
Osborne provides cover for Cory Jane and his Highlanders team-mate Waisake Naholo, who fractured his leg on his test debut against Argentina last month and has been all but ruled out of the Rugby World Cup.
