A late blow for the All Blacks ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies in Sydney.

Midfielder Jordie Barrett has been ruled out of the game due to a tight calf.

In a statement, the All Blacks said Barrett "experienced tightness during the last Bledisloe Cup match in Auckland and it has not settled sufficiently during the week for him to be available."

The statement confirms that Highlanders midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai has come into the starting lineup to replace Barrett, with Crusaders player, Chay Fihaki coming on to the bench to potentially make his Test debut.