Stanley P Freeman

The match was initially scheduled for this Saturday at Eden Park but New Zealand Rugby (NZR)pushed the date Steinlager North v South Rugby back by a week to 5 September due to Auckland being at Alert Level 3.That means if the game were to go ahead on Saturday week, in either location, it would be without a crowd. However, Auckland will have a ten person limit on gatherings at level two, rather than 100, which could affect Eden Park's ability to host the match.The North and South teams would likely have to assemble in Auckland or Wellington on Monday week.Foster told reporters on a conference call that Cane had not begun his "return-to-play protocols" in terms of training yet as the Chiefs did not play the final weekend of the domestic competition.Cane was not the only All Blacks player missing through injury with Dane Coles, Scott Barrett and Ngani Laumape not considered, although they could become available for the All Blacks in late October, Foster said. The two squads remain filled with star-quality players, however.