All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has been ruled out of the Bledisloe Cup opener against Australia after suffering a head knock in a warmup match.
Coles had only recently returned to rugby after having a season mired by injury, including concussion symptoms that kept him out of action for around four months.
His Hurricanes team mate Ricky Riccitelli had been drafted into the side as cover, the All Blacks said on their Twitter feed on Sunday.
Coles left the field in the warmup game on Friday, where New Zealand played half a game each against provincial sides Taranaki and Counties-Manukau.
Coach Steve Hansen said the 30-year-old would be monitored this week but not considered for Saturday's match against the Wallabies in Sydney.
"He'd be able to play if we really wanted him to, but we're taking a precautious route, so we've withdrawn him from playing," Hansen said.
"He's over here, he's going to train with us. Nothing too serious but enough to say that we don't want to play him."
Codie Taylor is expected to step into the starting role he fulfilled during the recent British and Irish Lions series when Coles was still suffering from concussion.
Outside backs Nehe Milner-Skudder and David Havili, who was brought in when Jordie Barrett was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury, were also released before the trip to Sydney.
The pair were expected to rejoin the squad next week in preparation for the second game against the Wallabies in Dunedin on August 26.
Reuters
