Jones, who led his country to a Grand Slam in 2008, endured a difficult dip in form last season that saw him miss out on selection for the original British & Irish Lions squad. The Ospreys No.8 admitted that there had been no contanct with Wales coach Warren Gatland and that if the decision was made to go with someone else then he would step aside with great memories in the role.

"That decision will be made in the next few weeks with or without my input," Jones told The Western Mail. "We will cross that bridge when we come to it. I have had some good and bad experiences, but they will all be ones that I will treasure.

"I have been Welsh captain for longer than some and I have won silverware as well. I don't think there is any other job like that in the rugby world with the pressure that comes with it. It was something I grew up wanting to do and I have been fortunate to do it. But you are only ever keeping these big jobs warm for somebody else.

"If the time comes that I have to relinquish it I am going to put my hands up, walk away with a smile on my face and say I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. It has had its tough times but it has also been great and I would not swap anything for it."

Ross played in all but one of the All Blacks' Tri-Nations Tests but one school of thought is for the Canterbury youngster to skip the tour in order to bulk up in the gym.

"I think, as with everyone else, it has got to be what is right for Isaac," Smith told The Press newspaper. "He has obviously got a lot of talent and some areas have been well publicised that he needs to work on. It is whether he can do that while he is playing or whether he needs to have extended time in the gym."

The former lock said smaller unions such as Manawatu, Northland and Tasman had improved and were now proving themselves on the field.

"Now they (NZRU) want to chop it all out again," Meads told The Manawatu Standard newspaper, adding that increased crowd sizes and the atmosphere at smaller grounds proved the competition's popularity. "To me that's bull. I think we'll see a lot more water under the bridge before it happens. I wouldn't go past there being court action.

"There are going to be a lot of problems if they put four teams down. There will be some hard words said to the NZRU."

Liebenberg ruptured knee ligaments in last weekend's draw with Toulouse and will be absent for seven months. In the same game, Argentina international Ledesma tore his bicep and will not feature again for four months.

Flanker Mauro Bergamasco is set for tests after suffering a suspected broken metatarsal in the same game, and is a potential doubt for Italy's November Test matches.

Wales flanker Martyn Williams is out until late November/December, while No.8 Xavier Rush is struggling with a dislocated finger.

He joins centres Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava, locks Ali Williams and Bryn Evans and hooker Keven Mealamu as All Blacks tour candidates ruled out with injury.