All Blacks: Beauden Barrett in doubt for Bledisloe Cup

All Blacks 1st-five Beauden Barrett. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Crusaders first five-eighth Richie Mo'unga has a chance, however brief, to further his case for inclusion on the end of year tour after being called into the All Blacks to provide cover for Beauden Barrett.

Barrett left the field 33 minutes into the All Blacks' 25-24 victory over the Springboks in Cape Town last week after a blow to the head. While he passed concussion tests at the time, he reported seeing "stars" and feeling unwell and did not return.

After arriving on Monday evening, the All Blacks will monitor Barrett's progress throughout the week in Brisbane ahead of Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup duel with the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium.

With Mo'unga on hand, and potentially in line to make his test debut from the bench if required, every precaution will be taken with Barrett.

If Barrett does not recover, Highlanders first-five Lima Sopoaga will start his first test in over two years, with Damian McKenzie providing additional cover from fullback.

Sopoaga last started a test against the Boks at Ellis Park in what doubled as his debut just prior to the 2015 World Cup. He was supposed to don the No 10 jersey against the Pumas in Argentina, but stayed home for the birth of his first daughter, prolonging his wait.

Mo'unga's call up is reward for a quality season in which he helped guide the Crusaders to the Super Rugby title. It also puts him firmly in the frame for the 37-man end of year tour squad as third-choice first-five.

The 23-year-old's inclusion has implications for Canterbury, with Mo'unga now seemingly unlikely to feature against North Harbour in Saturday's first Mitre 10 Cup semifinal in Christchurch.

In other developments, All Blacks second-rowers Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano have also remained at home. Romano and wife Hannah welcomed a baby boy, while Retallick and his wife are recovering from a family tragedy.

Patrick Tuipulotu, following his impressive stint off the bench against the Boks, offers locking cover alongside Scott Barrett.

Matt Todd will travel with the squad that features three opensides, with Ardie Savea returning from a rest.

Hurricanes second-five Ngani Laumape, blindside Vaea Fifita, prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Highlanders wing Waisake Naholo, expected to replace the injured Nehe Milner-Skudder on the right wing, also re-join the team after sitting out the trip to South Africa.

All Blacks squad:

Forwards: Wyatt Crockett, Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire and Matt Todd.

Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, David Havili and Damian McKenzie.