Flanker Sam Cane has been ruled out of the All Blacks Test against France this weekend, as a raft of reinforcements arrive to cover injuries on the northern tour.
The All Blacks XV completed their European swing with a 31-13 win over Georgia, but several of those players are now with the full national team, as a long season takes its toll on the squad.
Former captain Cane sustained a deep cut on his head during the win over Ireland and required stitches to a wound that sent him from the field. He is now under concussion protocols, which leaves him just one more possible outing against Italy before he takes up a three-year contract with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.
While Ardie Savea slid across the scrum to cover the openside position against the Irish, coach Scott Robertson has brought All Blacks XV captain Du'Plessis Kirifi into the squad as a closer like-for-like option.
"It's next man in and we back our squad," said All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan. "We back our squad and we have no doubt whoever comes in will do a great job.
"Sam's been immense, he's been exceptional on the field, and also with the leaders and the younger boys. He's been phenomenal, but he'll lead in a different way this week."
Winger Mark Tele'a is also out of the French encounter, after suffering a hand injury, with utility Chay Fihaki covering his absence, while Dutch-born lock Fabian Holland arrives to replace Sam Darry, whose season was ended by a knee injury.
Centre AJ Lam has replaced first-five Harry Plummer, who suffered a leg injury. Plummer was a replacement for centre Billy Proctor.
Better news comes in the form of veterans Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor emerging from their concussion treatment, after taking head knocks against England and missing the Ireland fixture.
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