Injury setback for All Blacks

Editor

Blues number eight Jerome Kaino suffered a compound fracture to his finger in their Super Rugby clash with the Force in Auckland on Saturday.

The All Black powerhouse forward left the field in the first-half with the injury to the ring finger of his left hand, with his team-mates going on to win 41-24.

"The bone came out of the skin but from what the doctors have been saying it looks a lot worse than what it is," Kaino told New Zealand's Sunday Star Times.

"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."

Joining the star back-row on the sidelines will be fellow All Black, full-back Charles Piutau, who suffered a knee injury in the fixture at Eden Park.

"It's similar to last year against the Chiefs. He can't feel anything so we'll have to get him scanned. It could be a wee while," said head coach Sir John Kirwan about his back's injury.