All Blacks veteran back Ben Smith can speak from experience when it comes to concussion in his career, saying his teammate Ryan Crotty needs to take his time with recovery.
Crotty was escorted off the ANZ Stadium pitch after he was knocked out while clashing heads with All Blacks teammate Jack Goodhue in the opening minutes of the Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies on Saturday night.
Smith, 32, has had a number of head knocks in his rugby career and said during a press conference in Auckland that Crotty is working though the protocols they have in place.
"Obviously we are good mates with Ryan and I actually think over the last couple of days he seems not too bad," said Smith.
"His symptoms and that weren’t that bad so I think you have just got to take it as it comes."
Smith made his return to international rugby in June this year against the French after suffering a nasty head knock in the opening Test against the British and Irish Lions 14 months ago.
"That's why the protocols are there so you can follow it and I’m sure he will take that time and he'll be back when he's ready."
The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 38-13 in the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney and have the chance to lock away the trophy this weekend with a win at Eden Park in Auckland.
It has been 16 years since the Wallabies have won the Bledisloe Cup trophy off the All Blacks.
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