HAVING undertaken to play the All Blacks in the early tour matches against the NZ Super Rugby franchises, there are signs that New Zealand will renege.
The news that full-back Ben Smith had been concussed and centre Ryan Crotty had sustained a rib cartilage injury during Saturday’s Crusaders win over the Highlanders set the alarm bells off, and opinion is swinging behind wrapping the All Blacks in cotton wool ahead of the Test series.
A lengthy injury list featuring Keiran Read (thumb), Liam Squire (thumb), Jerome Kaino (knee), Dane Coles and Beauden Barrett (both concussion) had alre...