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Sivi in the clear

Sunday 17th August 2008

Sitiveni Sivivatu: Awaiting injury prognosis

Sitiveni Sivivatu has not suffered any worse than a sprained ankle, according to All Blacks management on Sunday, while Richie McCaw is carrying bruised ribs but also nothing worse.

Sivivatu came off after 24 minutes of his side's 19-0 defeat of South Africa, having rolled his ankle while in full flight, leaving the All Blacks without a specialist winger in the side.

Assistant Coach Steve Hansen could not define the likely period of convalescence, saying the assessment could only be made in New Zealand.

"Obviously it was bad enough to come off yesterday and with injuries like that it usually takes about 48 hours for them to settle or get worse," he said to the NZPA.

"He's got a big flight. We have to manage it to ensure he gets plenty of ice on it on the way home. If we keep the swelling down, then he shouldn't be out for too long."

Hansen also said skipper Richie McCaw was carrying sore ribs from the match.

"They appear to be better today than they were yesterday, so it's encouraging," he said.

"We won't know until we get home how he is."