All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu dropped from Blues clash with British & Irish Lions

Image: Patrick Tuipulotu will not play for the Blues against the British & Irish Lions

The Blues have dropped lock Patrick Tuipulotu from their match against the British and Irish Lions for disciplinary reasons, raising questions over his All Blacks Test spot.

The Blues said Tuipulotu was pulled from the squad for Wednesday's match, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 8am, after breaking team protocol by turning up late for a training session.

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The 24-year-old had initially been named on the bench for the clash at Eden Park, the second game for the Lions on their New Zealand tour. He has been replaced by Jimmy Tupou.

The news also casts doubt on the 12-Test lock's place in the All Blacks squad for the three-Test series against the Lions, which will be named on Thursday.

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Hansen is set to include four locks with Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock near certainties. It was likely that two from three of Tuipulotu, Scott Barrett and Luke Romano would also get the nod, but it is now unlikely Tuipulotu will be considered following this recent misdemeanour.

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