New Zealand have been dealt a big blow following the news that Jerome Kaino will miss up to two months of action because of a compound fracture to the ring finger on his left hand.
Fellow All Blacks back row star Charles Piutau suffered an injury of his own during the Blues' comfortable win over the Western Force in Saturday's Super Rugby clash at Auckland's Eden Park, which will cause further panic for head coach Steve Hansen.
Kaino, who started every match for New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup, is now expected to miss the remainder of his club side's campaign.
"The bone came out of the skin but from what the doctors have been saying it looks a lot worse than what it is," he told New Zealand's Sunday Star Times newspaper.
"Worst case scenario they say eight weeks. Best case scenario I'll be back in a couple of weeks. I wasn't nauseous. I was thinking how to get it back in place and if it was going to hurt. It was a bit numb to start off with but when the doctor started trying to wiggle it back in place that's when the pain started coming."
Beauden Barrett also damaged his knee this weekend, which could see him face a spell on the sidelines.
Daniel Lewis
