All Blacks call up Damian McKenzie as cover for Ben Smith
Sunday 25 June 2017 08:26, UK
Damian McKenzie has been brought into the All Blacks squad for the Lions Test series after full-back Ben Smith was forced off with concussion in the first match on Saturday.
Smith left the field in the first half of the 30-15 victory after making some uncharacteristic errors under the high ball.
He failed a concussion check after leaving the field.
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It is Smith's third concussion this season and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said the vice captain's run of head injuries was a concern.
"Benda (Smith) failed the concussion tests so he is undergoing protocols and Damian McKenzie will come in for him," Hansen told reporters on Sunday.
"There's something going on there that is not quite right, so we need to find out what it is.
"Like any concussion, he's got to go through the protocols and until he passes them he's not going to play.
"He still has to (undergo) testing. It's not something we will rush into. We will give him a few days and let him go through it."
McKenzie started at fly-half for the New Zealand Maori against the Lions last week, kicking a penalty in the conversion in the 32-10 defeat, but is more comfortable at full-back, where he has been in superb form for the Chiefs in Super Rugby this season.
All Blacks centre Ryan Crotty also injured his hamstring in the first half on Saturday and could be out for anything from two to four weeks, Hansen said.
Crotty's Canterbury Crusaders team-mate Jack Goodhue, who was part of the All Blacks extended 33-man squad, will act as cover.
"Jack will be staying with us, and we will try to get Ryan ready maybe for the last Test if we're lucky," said Hansen.
Flanker Matt Todd, another of the cover players, was released after he sustained a calf injury during training.
Akira Ioane will travel with the All Blacks to Wellington to ensure they have enough loose forwards available with Liam Squire more likely to recover from his broken thumb for the third Test.
Hansen released fullback Jordie Barrett, inside centre Ngani Laumape, winger Julian Savea and flanker Vaea Fifita to play for the Wellington Hurricanes for their match against the Lions on Tuesday.
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