Bledisloe Cup: Frizell back but All Blacks lose star 10 to injury

The All Blacks will be without first-choice No. 10 Ruben Love for the two-Test Bledisloe Cup series against the Wallabies, while Shannon Frizell is in line to play his first game for New Zealand since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Love was on Tuesday confirmed to be among the All Blacks' injured absences, the Hurricanes pivot joining skipper Ardie Savea, winger Caleb Clarke, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, back-rower Luke Jacobson, centres Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor, and prop Ollie Norris on the sidelines.

But there was better news for Quinn Tupaea, who has overcome the knee injury he picked up in the third Test defeat by the Springboks to take his place among the 34-man Bledisloe squad.

Love is meanwhile managing an ankle injury, which has seen Josh Jacomb named alongside Richie Mo'unga as the team's two playmakers, with coach Dave Rennie listing Beauden Barrett among his outside backs, where he is joined by Hurricanes flyer Fehi Fineanganofo.

Barrett had been rumoured to be in danger of missing the squad after his only appearance against South Africa in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry came off the bench in Baltimore, but the 35-year-old 145-Test veteran remains a part of Rennie's plans for the moment at least.

Fineanganofo was earlier on Tuesday granted a release from his contract with Newcastle Red Bulls, with the winger now set to join the club after next year's Rugby World Cup instead.

Elsewhere, the long-term shoulder and elbow injuries suffered by Savea and Jacobson have created the opportunity for Frizell to rejoin the national setup after three seasons in Japan alongside Mo'unga at Toshiba Brave Lupus.

While Mo'unga was a late addition to the All Blacks' squad in South Africa following multiple backline injuries early in the tour, Frizell was not called upon and instead has been chipping away with Tasman in the National Provincial Championship.

With Savea's season likely done, Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor will continue to captain the All Blacks despite the return of Scott Barrett, who led New Zealand under former coach Scott Robertson.

"Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour was great for us. We've learnt a lot about our game and about ourselves, and it gave a lot of guys valuable time in the jersey. Plenty of them put their hands up, and every player selected fully deserves their place," Rennie said via media release

"It's great to welcome back Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell. Scott has had a challenging stretch on the sidelines, and we're thrilled to have his experience and leadership back in the group. Shannon brings plenty of Test experience and physical impact to our loose forwards.

"Congratulations also to Codie Taylor on the captaincy. Codie is a top man who has huge mana. His leadership as Tour Captain was important for us during Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, so we know he will do an outstanding job in Ardie's absence.

"The Bledisloe Cup means a huge amount to this team. We've held it since 2003 and we don't take that for granted. Australia will be a real challenge. It's now a very experienced Wallabies side who have played a lot of Test footy together. After eight games on the road, we're excited to start this series in front of our home crowd at Eden Park," Rennie said.

Taylor said he was happy to step in for Savea and the team would look to do their injured leader proud.