The All Blacks will face an injury depleted England side next month with England now missing their first choice front row.
Former captain and prop Phil Vickery is the latest casualty suffering a neck injury that needs, surgery which will see him sidelined for at least three months.
The announcement comes less than 24 hours after it was revealed prop Andrew Sheridan will be out of action for at least four months with a dislocated shoulder.
With hooker Lee Mears already out with knee ligament damage, England manager Martin Johnson must contemplate a complete revamp of what was an all British and Irish Lions front row.
It takes to 12 the total number of players Johnson will definitely be without through injury, including former Hurricanes player Riki Flutey.
