The Crusaders and the All Blacks have been dealt a big blow with the news Sam Whitelock has been ruled out of his team's match against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
The experienced lock and new All Blacks captain now must be in doubt for the first test against France due to his concussion symptoms, although Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said Whitelock had improved significantly from a head knock suffered against the Waratahs nearly three weeks ago.
It means Whitelock will miss three matches before the All Blacks test at Eden Park a week on Saturday, a state of affairs that will not please coach Steve Hansen, who would have received a thorough breakdown of the issues from the player himself at the All Blacks training camp at the start of the week.
The 29-year-old Whitelock, who has played 96 tests, was on the sidelines in Christchurch as the All Blacks ran through their paces so it's probably no surprise that he is missing another week. In his absence against the Hurricanes last weekend, All Black Scott Barrett and Quinten Strange stood up for the red and blacks and the onus will go that pair again against an impressive Chiefs scrum.
To compound matters for the Crusaders and Hansen, midfielder Ryan Crotty will also miss the Chiefs match due to concussion. It will be the second match Crotty has missed due to the injury suffered against the Blues a fortnight ago.