All Blacks release 12 players for provincial duty

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has unshackled 12 squad members to play Mitre 10 Cup rugby this weekend after his side's Bledisloe Cup win over Australia.

Injury reinforcements Damian McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu, Liam Coltman, James Parsons and Rieko Ioane will all return to the provinces after their last-minute inclusions in the second Bledisloe Test set-up, with first-five Lima Sopoaga, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu and Luke Romano also in the line to play provincial rugby, joined by Ryan Crotty and Codie Taylor.