Scott Barrett is thought to be in serious doubt for the All Blacks' deciding third test against Ireland in Wellington tomorrow night.
After starting at lock in the second-test defeat in Dunedin last week, Barrett did not train fully on Tuesday at the Hutt Recreation Ground in Lower Hutt due to what is thought to be a knee injury.
The Crusaders captain was, however, named to start at blindside on Thursday before the All Blacks' main training session of the week where he may have aggravated the injury.
The All Blacks declined to comment on Friday when approached by The New Zealand Herald about Barrett's fitness.
Barrett may yet play through the pain but, if he is ruled out, Blues loose forward Akira Ioane would be promoted to start at blindside and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i, who returned from Covid this week, is expected to come onto the bench to provide cover for Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick.
The performance allayed concerns from fans after Barrett's only previous start in the No 6 jersey, during the All Blacks' semifinal loss to England at the 2019 World Cup.
Barrett's selection for that match backfired but the All Blacks were not beaten solely for that reason, and coach Ian Foster was unconcerned by a single performance.
"He's filled in there a couple of times and played there for the Crusaders. We know he can do it," Foster said before the first test. "I didn't spend too long thinking about the 2019 game. We took some lessons from that but they were learnt a long time ago.
"This one we were very clear about the strategy. It's something we've talked to Scott before about.
"Apart from his set-piece acumen he brings a bruising defence and ball carrying - he's probably our most dynamic ball-carrying lock at the moment so we can utilise that a bit at six.
"He finds the roles similar now apart from a couple of defensive tweaks which we've had to make sure we tidy up."
Barrett's potential absence and the subsequent late reshuffle would only add to the task facing an All Blacks side still smarting from the second-test loss.
Although they are warm favourites to win the test and series, the All Blacks have earned victory only once in their last five matches in Wellington.
Ireland ready to cause 'chaos'
Riding high after an historic first win over the All Blacks in New Zealand, Ireland are ready to unleash "chaos" in Wellington to upset the hosts again and claim a seismic series victory.
Spanked in the Eden Park opener in Auckland, Andy Farrell's men rebounded magnificently against the shorthanded hosts at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium to set up a mouth-watering third test decider in Wellington that brings the tension of a World Cup knockout a year early for fans.
Tenacious Ireland have relished their role as disruptors to the All Blacks, winning four of the last seven matches they have played against the three-times world champions.
They will need to lift again at Wellington Regional Stadium tomorrow night, where a chastened All Blacks team are likely to come out breathing fire.
Farrell believes his team have it in them to improve and create more history in a land where the hosts have not suffered back-to-back defeats since 1998.
"They've got a plan but it's up to us, like I keep saying, to bring a bit of chaos to that plan.
"And we've got to make sure we put a bit of doubt in the All Blacks' minds as the game goes, like every other game."
Farrell has entrusted the same players with that task, making only one injury-enforced change to his starting 15, promoting Bundee Aki to replace inside centre Garry Ringrose.
Foster relishing challenge
With the All Blacks beaten in three of their last four matches, including defeat to the Irish in Dublin last November, another loss would trigger panic stations in New Zealand and put Foster's job on very thin ice.
If feeling the heat, Foster hid it well at his media conference on Thursday, speaking of relishing the challenge ahead.
"I don't think we're learning it, but everyone else is learning that this is a high quality team that we're playing against," he said of Ireland.
"It's a great examination for us so we've got to show that we're smart and we're learning as well."
Home fans will hope that means more discipline from the All Blacks, who drew two yellow cards and had prop Angus Ta'avao dismissed in little more than half an hour at Dunedin.
Fans and media pundits have raged over the officiating in the series, criticising the strict application of high contact rules and the regular disruptions brought by the referees consulting with TV match officials.
English referee Wayne Barnes will control the match in Wellington.
Foster said no-one wanted to see contests decided by player dismissals.
"I think there is a wider discussion about where the game is going and do we want to keep seeing contests that are a little bit lop-sided in numbers?" he said.
"So I think we’ve got to find a way."
The third test in Wellington kicks off at 7.05pm.
Teams
All Blacks: 15-Jordie Barrett, 14-Will Jordan, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-David Havili, 11-Sevu Reece, 10-Beauden Barrett, 9-Aaron Smith, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane (captain), 6-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 4-Brodie Retallick, 3-Nepo Laulala, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-George Bower
Replacements: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Akira Ioane, 20-Dalton Papalii, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Ireland: 15-Hugo Keenan, 14-Mack Hansen, 13-Bundee Aki, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-James Lowe, 10-Johnny Sexton (captain), 9-Jamison Gibson Park, 8-Caelan Doris, 7-Josh van der Flier, 6-Peter O'Mahony, 5-James Ryan, 4-Tadhg Beirne, 3-Tadhg Furlong, 2-Dan Sheehan, 1-Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16-Rob Herring, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Finlay Bealham, 19-Kieran Treadwell, 20-Jack Conan, 21-Conor Murray, 22-Joey Carbery, 23-Keith Earls
