All Black pair all but ruled out of French series

Kieran Read likely won't feature when the All Blacks take on the French in their first test series of the year in June.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen today said that both Read and hooker Dane Coles would be eased back into the fold.

Read has not appeared on the field since December of last year thanks to back surgery, while Coles has been out all year after suffering a ruptured ACL.

"I don't think he'll [Read] be back until after the French series but that's not a fait accompli at this point," Hansen told Radio Sport.

"We'll just take our time and as I said about a month ago, he knows his body and we can't afford to come back too early and damage it again and miss another six months and maybe even miss the World Cup - we'll just take it one day at a time and one week at a time."

Hansen added that Coles would be likely be unavailable until June, and revealed he is also battling through knee problems.

"Dane is having a few problems with his knee too - he can't seem to straighten it," Hansen said.

"He's gone back to the surgeon and the surgeon has put him back in a brace at night to try to help him get full extension."

The Crusaders' Codie Taylor and Chiefs' Nathan Harris will likely cover the No. 2 jersey for the French series, while Akira Ioane's form could see him claim Read's spot at Number Eight.

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