Outside back Ben Smith will be rested for the All Blacks' final Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane while halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Ben Smith of the All Blacks steps outside Handre Pollard of the Springboks during the Rugby Championship test match in Johannesburg. October 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Kerr-Barlow has been ruled out for up to nine months after suffering a serious knee injury in yesterday morning's loss to the Springboks.
The All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says Smith, who has played every minute of the Rugby Championship, is fatigued after a long season, and will miss the dead rubber at Suncorp Stadium in a fortnight to take a break from rugby and freshen up mentally and physically.
Smith may get up to a month off if he doesn't play against the United States in Chicago on November the 1st.
Cory Jane or Charles Piutau will likely start on the right wing against the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Hansen says locks Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird and Patrick Tuipulotu are all expected to be fully fit and available for the Suncorp Stadium clash.
First-five Aaron Cruden will also be welcomed back into the squad following his two-week suspension, though Dan Carter will likely miss the trip as he recovers from his latest injury picked up in Tasman's win over Canterbury on Saturday night.
Hansen says he's unsure if the All Blacks will take a third halfback to Australia for the dead rubber but he confirmed another number nine will go on the end of year tour.
Kerr-Barlow will have surgery in New Zealand after tearing two knee ligaments and ripping his hamstring off the bone in a collision with South African flanker Schalk Burger while attempting a clearing kick.
