Cape Town - The All Blacks have suffered a blow ahead of the Rugby Championship with prop Wyatt Crockett set to miss the start of the tournament.
According to the NewstalkZB website, Crockett will be sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a medial ligament injury in the Crusaders' Super Rugby semi-final loss to the Chiefs over the weekend.
Crockett's team-mate at the Crusaders, Joe Moody, was called up in his place for this week's All Black training camp in Auckland.
"Disappointing whenever you lose a guy that's playing well," said New Zealand coach Steve Hansen.
"But one man's demise is another man's opportunity. It just gives us an opportunity to work with a young guy and that will be quite exciting too."
Hansen named a 30-man training squad to take part in a two-day camp this week before the Rugby Championship squad is named on Sunday.
The squad does not include members of the Chiefs who will play the Brumbies in the Super Rugby final in Hamilton on Saturday.
The All Blacks start their Rugby Championship campaign with a Test against Australia in Sydney on August 17.
All Black training squad for this week:
Backs: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Piri Weepu, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Francis Saili, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.
Forwards: Dane Coles, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Samuel Whitelock, Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Brad Shields, Matt Todd, Victor Vito.
According to the NewstalkZB website, Crockett will be sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a medial ligament injury in the Crusaders' Super Rugby semi-final loss to the Chiefs over the weekend.
Crockett's team-mate at the Crusaders, Joe Moody, was called up in his place for this week's All Black training camp in Auckland.
"Disappointing whenever you lose a guy that's playing well," said New Zealand coach Steve Hansen.
"But one man's demise is another man's opportunity. It just gives us an opportunity to work with a young guy and that will be quite exciting too."
Hansen named a 30-man training squad to take part in a two-day camp this week before the Rugby Championship squad is named on Sunday.
The squad does not include members of the Chiefs who will play the Brumbies in the Super Rugby final in Hamilton on Saturday.
The All Blacks start their Rugby Championship campaign with a Test against Australia in Sydney on August 17.
All Black training squad for this week:
Backs: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Piri Weepu, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Francis Saili, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.
Forwards: Dane Coles, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Samuel Whitelock, Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Brad Shields, Matt Todd, Victor Vito.