WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Uncapped flanker Du Plessis Kirifi and prop George Bower have been drafted into New Zealand’s squad for the Rugby Championship in Australia.

Bower is needed because loosehead Joe Moody sustained a head injury in Sunday’s win over Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup test and prop Nepo Laulala is on paternity leave. Kirifi is also required because of the absence on parental leave of backrower Ardie Savea.

Centers Ngani Laumape and Peter Umaga-Jensen and lock Mitchell Dunshea previously joined the All Blacks squad as injury cover and have been retained to travel.

New Zealand will take 36 players to the Rugby Championship, reduced to three nations and six matches by the withdrawal of World Cup champion South Africa.

The squad otherwise is the same as the one which drew 16-16 with Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington and won 27-7 in Auckland.

Australia and New Zealand will meet in the first two matches of the Rugby Championship —doubling as the last two matches of the Bledisloe series — in Sydney on Oct. 31 and Brisbane on Nov. 7.

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New Zealand squad: Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles and Codie Taylor. Props: George Bower, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Karl Tu’inukuafe, and Ofa Tuungafasi. Locks: Scott Barrett, Mitchell Dunshea, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i and Samuel Whitelock. Backrowers: Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Cullen Grace, Akira Ioane, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea and Hoskins Sotutu. Scrumhalves: T.J. Perenara, Aaron Smith and Brad Weber. Flyhalves: Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga. Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, Rieko Ioane, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Peter Umaga-Jensen. Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece.

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