MacDonald may be out for season

Injured All Black fullback Leon MacDonald is in doubt for the rest of the season.

MacDonald was concussed against Fiji last month and was still feeling unwell. He will join the squad in Nelson tomorrow, but is an unlikely starter for the rest of the Tri-Nations and there is a feeling he would benefit from bypassing the NPC too.

"We need to assess Leon and others, and there is no way we are going to risk him until he is right," coach John Mitchell said.

Mark Hammett has a knee strain, and hookers such as Andrew Hore or Corey Flynn may be picked as cover.

Medical assessments will also be made of Norm Maxwell, Taine Randell and Marty Holah, who have had leg injuries, and Mark Robinson, Doug Howlett and Simon Maling, who were banged about in Saturday's 41-20 test win against South Africa.