FIXTURES: August 19 v Australia (Sydney); August 26 v v Australia (Dunedin); September 9 v Argentina (New Plymouth); September 16 v South Africa (North Harbour); September 30 v Argentina (Buenos Aires); October 7 v South Africa (Cape Town)
SQUAD NEWS AND PREPARATIONS: Julian Savea and Crusaders flanker Matt Todd, who was damned near MOM in the Sup Rugby Final against the Lions, again miss out on the initial squad. New Zealand have already peaked once this season – against the British and Irish Lions – and that could prove their biggest challenge. That must have drained players...