The surgery cast doubt on his appearance for the series. However, speaking to Rapport, Kwagga "Battle Stats" Smith revealed that he has made a full recovery and will be fit for duty come July.

Do the All Blacks have their own Kwagga Smith coming through? Ex-hooker James Parsons and former Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall believe they do in the form of Waikato prodigy Oli Mathis.