All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw played through the England test series with a broken rib - but won't repeat the feat for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirmed today McCaw would miss the last three rounds of Super Rugby's regular season because of a broken rib sustained either in the second or third test against England.
The great openside flanker, who has played a record-breaking 127 tests for the All Blacks, may return for the Crusaders' finals campaign if the Kiwi conference leaders make it that far.
The Red and Blacks top the New Zealand conference on 41 points and are third on the overall standings. They visit the Hurricanes on Saturday night and finish their season with home clashes against the Blues and Highlanders.
Hansen told Radio Sport today that X-rays on Monday confirmed McCaw had broken his rib, and that it was likely the injury occurred before Saturday’s final test in Hamilton.
“Unfortunately he’s got a broken rib which he did possibly in the second test, or early in the third one. It was just a courageous effort for him to be out there and doing what he does,” Hansen said.
The All Blacks coach said they had not known the rib was broken before last Saturday’s final test in the England series, which the All Blacks nailed to complete a 3-0 sweep and run their winning streak to a record-equalling 17.
“He said he had a sore rib. The doctor had look at it and didn’t think it was broken, he just thought it was badly bruised. So he played the last one and was really sore after that. He’s obviously done some more damage to it in the third test.”
