News

All Blacks wait on MacDonald

August 03 2008

The New Zealand coaches will make a decision later this week on whether full-back Leon MacDonald will travel with the squad to South Africa.

MacDonald has not played in the past two Tri-Nations matches because of ongoing concussion problems after taking a bang to the head during the loss to South Africa in Dunedin and spent last weekend at home with his family as the All Blacks trounced Australia 39-10 at Eden Park.

The New Zealand team doctor Deb Robinson will assess MacDonald in Christchurch this week, while there is also a doubt over whether wing Rudi Wulf will make the trip to Cape Town for the match against the Springboks after he suffered a knee sprain playing for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup last Friday.

"We certainly won't be rushing (MacDonald) back to play till he is ready," said Hansen.

"We sent him home to be with his family and it's like any head injury it will come right eventually.

"He wasn't that far away but the Doc will see him during the week and we'll make assessments. If he's not right he won't be part of it."

If MacDonald is ruled out the All Blacks coaches will be allowed to call in a specialist replacement from outside the players who have already taken part in the Tri-Nations so far.

But Hansen said the other valid option was to use centre Richard Kahui, who played on the wing against Australia, as back-up to Mils Muliaina.

"We're all pretty happy with the way Richard went on Saturday. He's versatile enough to play at full-back. He's played a lot of football there (for the Highlanders in 2006)."

"He certainly handled the challenges (on Saturday) night well. So that's one option. With Rudi struggling with his knee that might be the option but we'll wait and see."

New Zealand can only take 26 players to South Africa and Hansen confirmed on Sunday Piri Weepu would travel as the third scrum-half but that they had decided against taking an extra hooker with props Tony Woodcock and John Afoa to cover the position should either Andrew Hore or Keven Mealamu get injured.

Hooking stocks in New Zealand are limited at the moment with Anton Oliver studying in England, Tom Willis plying his trade in Wales and Corey Flynn injured. Young Hawke's Bay hooker Hikawera Elliot was called in as cover when Hore was doubtful with a bruised hip prior to the Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland.

"We will use Tony Woodcock as the thrower and John Afoa as the hooker in the scrum," Hansen explained.

"Tony's a very good thrower and has been doing a bit of work on it quietly in the background.

"With all the injuries we've got in the hooking area we just think that's the best option."