All Blacks call in injury cover trio

Locks Luke Romano and Tom Franklin and Crusaders stand-in captain Matt Todd will join the All Blacks camp in Auckland this week as injury cover in preparation for this month's Test series against France.

Chiefs second-row Brodie Retallick did not return for the second half against the Crusaders last Saturday in Hamilton after suffering a pectoral injury with Chiefs coach Colin Cooper expressing doubt that Retallick would be ready for the first Test and thought he could be out for the whole series.

The news did get better with captain Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty all available for the first test this Saturday.

Vice-captain Sam Cane has been struggling with an abdominal strain since early May and Crusaders No. 8 Jordan Taufua has missed the last two Super Rugby rounds with a calf problem but both are expected to be fit for Saturday's first test against France at Eden Park.