WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The New Zealand All Blacks face a strain on their midfield resources as they attempt to regroup after last weekend’s test loss to the British and Irish Lions and to prepare for the series-deciding third test in Auckland on Saturday.
Ryan Crotty, the All Blacks’ new midfield organizer, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in the first test at Eden Park and Sonny Bill Williams has been suspended after being sent off in the second test.
That leaves the All Blacks to choose from a group of relatively inexperienced centers as they attempt to avoid their first series loss to the Lions since 1971.