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WELLINGTON. — New Zealand prop Owen Franks has been ruled out for the rest of the year with Achilles problems, but three other injured All Blacks have been cleared to face Argentina in New Plymouth on Saturday.

Sam Cane and Ryan Crotty, who were concussed in the second Rugby Championship Test against Australia, and prop Wyatt Crockett, who suffered a head knock in the first Australia Test, were all available, coach Steve Hansen said yesterday.

Hansen, however, was vague about the likely line-up on Saturday as he weighed up the need to establish combinations against a need to develop depth.

“It’s a fine line,” he said, while confirming Aucklander Blake Gibson had been called into the squad with third-ranked openside flanker Matt Todd sidelined by a broken hand. — AFP.