Blues and North Harbour winger Mark Telea has been called into the All Blacks squad as a replacement for Leicester Fainga'anuku in preparation to face Japan.
Telea, 25, was called into the All Blacks earlier this year to cover Will Jordan, as COVID-19 hit the team before the series-opening test against Ireland.
With Fainga'anuku leaving the All Blacks camp in Japan for family reasons, Telea will join the side in Tokyo, where they will face the 'Brave Blossoms' on Saturday night.
Named in the All Blacks XV side to tour Europe, Telea joins teammates Patrick Tuipulotu, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber and Asafo Aumua in joining coach Ian Foster's national side for the short term at least.
Since his 2020 Blues debut, Telea has scored 14 tries in 39 appearances, helping them finish runners-up to the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific this year.
Fainga'anuku becomes the latest player to withdraw from the All Blacks squad, as they assemble at Tokyo. All three Barrett brothers - Beauden, Scott and Jordie - have stayed home with family to mourn the death of their grandmother.
Veteran lock Sam Whitelock and Jordan both picked up ear infections, although Whitelock is expected to rejoin the group this week, while halfback Folau Fakatava has ruptured a knee ligament and will be sidelined indefinitely, missing the entire tour.
Join us at 6:50pm Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks v Japan test
