There's increasing concern for All Blacks No.8 Kieran Read, with concussion again ruling him out of contention for his Super Rugby side the Crusaders.
Read suffered a head knock in the win over the Chiefs in Hamilton almost a month ago, and he's since missed the victories over the ACT Brumbies and the Queensland Reds.
Read also sat out the match against the top of the table South Africans, the Sharks, on Saturday.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder says the decision to not risk Read again was his, not the All Blacks, and Read is improving.
Blackadder says Kieran Read's not doing any contact training but the signs are encouraging for a return next week.
