Stephen Donald's rib injury during Waikato's last-gasp Thursday night thriller over Taranaki has given All Blacks coach Graham Henry a few anxious moments.
Henry admitted in a radio interview today he was concerned over the knock taken by Donald, who has emerged as a quality backup for Daniel Carter in the All Blacks, that forced him from the field late in the first half of a topsy-turvy Air NZ Cup match eventually won 45-41 by Waikato.
The victory clinched the Mooloo men a spot in the quarterfinals, but they confirmed today that Donald was almost certainly out of that first-round knockout match.
"We made some inquiries at halftime last night and reaffirmed it was a rib injury. He had X-rays last night and I'm expecting a call this morning," Henry told Radio Sport.
The news was not as bad as it could have been, with Waikato confirming today that Donald had suffered strained rib cartilage and was set to be unavailable for next weekend's quarterfinal, likely to be against Canterbury in Christchurch.
But it should not affect Donald's chance of taking his place in the 35-strong touring All Blacks party Henry will name on the Sunday after the Air NZ Cup final (October 26).
Waikato's other injuries out of the Taranaki tussle, won with a late try to All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu, were less serious. Flanker Liam Messam has a tight hamstring and Sivivatu a twisted ankle. Both are expected to be fit for the quarterfinal round.
The All Blacks coach confirmed his touring party, which could also include Messam, will assemble in Auckland that afternoon and will fly out for Hong Kong, the first stop on their five-week trek, the following day.
Henry also said he will conduct a national training camp the week of the final for players not taking part in the provincial competition's last game. There will be an informal match scheduled during that time to help give those who had not played since the Tri-Nations conclusion a hitout.
But Henry leapt to the defence of men like supposed Tasman players Ali Williams and Brad Thorn and Wellington's Rodney So'oialo, none of whom were likely to see any provincial action before the tyour.
"Ali Williams carried an ankle injury right through the Tri-Nations and this has been his only chance to sort it out," he said.
"Brad Thorn went into the Brisbane test with a hamstring problem and Rodney has had shoulder problems for some time. This gives them an opportunity to get that right over three or four weeks.
"We've just got to give them some space out of the game to get that right."
Henry also revealed he was prepared for Carter to make a late arrival back to New Zealand next year after his French commmitments end with Perpignan. Depending on how Carter's new club fare in terms of the championship playoffs, he may not make it back in time to play in the June tests against, ironically, France.
"There's a lot of water to run under the bridge between then and now," said Henry. "The team he plays in has to get into the semifinals and final, but if that's the case, I'm sure we can be flexible."
Given that Carter would have played pretty much continuous rugby for nigh on 18 months through to the end of his French "sabbatical" the greatest flexibility the All Balcks could probobaly show would be to give their playmaker a break before welcoming him back for the Tri-Nations.
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