Duo to join NZ squad

Second-row pair Greg Rawlinson and Ross Filipo will join the New Zealand senior squad this week after injuries to Ali Williams and Keith Robinson.

The locking duo, named as the starting pair for the Kiwis’ test against France, both failed to make it through the record 61-10 win in Wellington on Saturday.

Williams broke his jaw during the match and will be out for at least two months.

Robinson strained his calf muscle during the warm up and will not be back until next month.

South African-born Rawlinson, who joins Worcester later this year, played two Tests for the All Blacks while Filipo, 28, is yet to debut.

The Wellington and Crusaders forward, who scored in the Junior All Blacks’ 39-13 win over Tonga in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup in Nuku’alofa at the weekend, previously resisted overtures from Samoa.

The All Blacks re-assemble on Wednesday to prepare for the match against Canada on Saturday.