All Blacks adopt safety-first approach

A dislocated elbow to Angus Ta’avao, and the revelation exHurricane Willis Halaholo has tested positive to Covid-19, have kept the All Blacks’ management staff busy in Cardiff.

Assistant coach John Plumtree said that while the All Blacks were awaiting scans to confirm the severity of loosehead prop Ta’avao’s injury, which he suffered at training, it may rule him out of contention to play Wales on Sunday morning.

Given the All Blacks are likely to start Nepo Laulala at tighthead, with Ofa Tu’ungafasi providing cover off the bench, the withdrawal of Ta’avao isn’t expected to create major selection headaches in the short term.

However, at a time when everyone in the touring party must be vigilant because of the pandemic, any disruption is clearly not ideal.

The news of Auckland-born Halaholo’s misfortune may have also been greeted with dismay from several All Blacks players.

Halaholo, who qualifies for Wales on residency grounds after previously playing for the Hurricanes in 2015 and 2016, had his dream of playing against several of former team-mates dashed after being forced to isolate.

His misfortune has reinforced to the All Blacks how important it is to follow rules set out by management, and Plumtree, who was working as forwards coach when Halaholo played for the Hurricanes, was sympathetic to his plight.

‘‘It is very sad news for Willis. I am sure he would have been excited about playing the All Blacks,’’ Plumtree said. ‘‘A quality player, and very sad for him and his family.’’

The fixture in Cardiff will be the first time a capacity crowd has been allowed back into Principality Stadium since the pandemic began, and the All Blacks players had been made aware of what was required to ensure they remain safe.

Plumtree said there was a heightened risk of infection in Cardiff, compared to Washington DC, and the squad were ensuring they minimised any contact with the public and hotel staff.

Precautionary measures include stationing the squad near the back entrance of the hotel, having access to their own lift, and servicing their own bedrooms.

‘‘We are seeing no-one, really, but ourselves in this hotel,’’ Plumtree said. ‘‘Food is all dished up, the staff leave and we help ourselves to the buffet.

‘‘We are masked up, everywhere.

‘‘As another little example we have a real cool initiative around a cart that pulls up outside the hotel at 7am and the boys can wander out in front of the hotel and get a coffee.’’

Several activities have been organised for the players on their rest day.

While Plumtree planned to visit Swansea, where he coached between 1997 and 2001, with head coach Ian Foster, up to 19 players have arranged for a round of golf in a ‘‘safe environment’’.

A member of the All Blacks’ security team had also organised a visit, for those interested, to an elite military amenity about 90 minutes drive from Cardiff.

‘‘The bus is going to the SAS facilities for about six or seven hours tomorrow and they have promised lunch and a really good experience,’’ Plumtree said.

The All Blacks, who began their 10-match tour in late August when they left New Zealand for Perth, are now in their 11th week of the trip.

After playing Wales they are scheduled to meet Italy (Rome), Ireland (Dublin) and France (Paris) before returning home to isolate for two weeks.

Unlike previous tours, when players were encouraged to go sightseeing and visit eateries, they must remain vigilant about not getting infected by Covid-19.

‘‘This is a real endurance battle, mentally,’’ Plumtree said. ‘‘But if you came into the environment, and saw how the players were coping, you would admire them.

‘‘Because it’s not easy. But they are all sticking really tight. They all understand the importance of just being grateful that we can play on a world stage, right now, in these types of conditions.’’