All free blacks ahead, Wallace Sititi will undergo surgery on an foot injury and will lose the series with three trials against France in July, the team said on Thursday.

The eight-year-old number, who was the Rugby World Progress player of the year in 2024, will be replaced in the team by Christian Lio-Willie.

Lio-Willie, who is intact, was already with the team as a cover cover for Luke Jacobson so the Flancker Dalton Papali’i has now been called to meet that role.

New Zealand host France IN Opening test in Dunerty On July 5 before further clashes in Wellington and Hamilton over the following weekends.