All outlets report that New Zealand hooker George Bell is ruled out of the All Blacks’ upcoming tour of South Africa. The decision removes Bell from the squad for the tour’s eight matches. With Bell unavailable, New Zealand calls up a replacement hooker. Bradley Slater, who is based with the Blues and has also been associated with Taranaki, is named as Bell’s cover for the tour. The reporting indicates that the change is made ahead of the tour, meaning Slater joins the group to take Bell’s place in the match schedule. Details on the specific reason for Bell’s exclusion are not provided in the supplied summaries, but all sources agree on the core points: Bell will not travel, and Slater is the replacement selected for the South Africa tour.