All Blacks schedule friendly

We need to provide an environment where they can get some rugby and get rid of some of the cobwebs.

The All Blacks will play a warm-up match against Auckland and Counties-Manukau in preparation for the inaugural Rugby Championship.

The hit out, which will not feature any Chiefs players, has been organised to afford players from the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes game time ahead of the competition opener against Australia on August 18.

The side will play two 20-minute chukkas in Pukekohe against Auckland and Counties respectively before the provincial teams will play each other for a half.

"They were scheduled to play each other and we're very thankful that they've given us 40 minutes of their time," said All Black coach Steve Hansen.

"There are some guys that haven't played for six weeks and that's not a great preparation going into a Test match.   

“We need to provide an environment where they can get some rugby and get rid of some of the cobwebs."

Hansen said the Chiefs players in the squad would be rested for the friendly and managed carefully.

"We'll have to be smart about what they do when they come into camp," he said.

"There is no need for them to have the game.

"They'll celebrate for a couple of days I'd imagine, so we'll have to get them over that as well, but they deserve the right to celebrate the moment."