Sunday 11 June 2017 10:42, UK
Injured All Blacks' captain Kieran Read and fly-half Aaron Cruden have been ruled out of New Zealand's Test against Samoa but will be fit to face the British and Irish Lions, coach Steve Hansen said on Sunday.
However, hooker Dane Coles would not be considered, Hansen said, as the All Blacks assembled in Auckland before Friday's match against Samoa.
Coles, a world player of the year finalist last year, hasn't played for three months as he battles concussion symptoms.
Ryan Crotty remained "touch and go" with a rib injury but "everyone else is pretty good", Hansen said.
Read had previously ruled himself out of the Samoa match as he recovers from a broken thumb, while Cruden damaged knee ligaments in Friday's Super Rugby match between the Waikato Chiefs and the Wellington Hurricanes.
Brodie Retallick and Ben Smith were both said to be "very good" after recent concussion problems.
