All Blacks captain Kieran Read is a concern for all New Zealand according to his Crusaders coach as a broken thumb derailed his preparation for the British & Irish Lions tour in eight weeks.
Read suffered the injury against the Cheetahs on Saturday with Crusaders confirming he had "surgery on a fracture at the base of his right thumb" with a six week period expected for recovery.
With the first test against the Lions just eight weeks away, he will be in a race against time to be fit for Steve Hansen's side.
"I think the whole of New Zealand is worried," said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to Stuff.co.nz.
"The guy has worked so hard off the field to get his hand right from the surgery he had during the offseason and has been world class since returning to the field," Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan told the New Zealand Herald. "Obviously it's disappointing and will be concerning for the All Blacks."