AllBlacks fit despite appearances

http://www.allblacks.com/news/20698/AllBlacks-fit-despite-appearances-

The All Blacks will select from a fully fit squad, despite the fact that captain Richie McCaw played a minimal role in training in Johannesburg.

McCaw, who suffered a knee injury against the Springboks in Dunedin, played against Argentina but was spelled for the final quarter for a well-deserved 20 minute rest.

The World Cup winning skipper is likely to play in Round Six at Soweto this weekend, especially considering the personally, the victory will give McCaw 100 test wins as a player – the first time in history this mark has been achieved.

McCaw played a small part in training before taking a hit in a drill, and the following ice pack was said by the All Blacks medical team to be merely precautionary.

While the entire team would be eligible for selection, the faces of more than one player suggested it was the walking wounded in South Africa today.

Centre Conrad Smith’s unlucky 2012 with his eyes continue, sporting a shiner after the match with the Pumas, just weeks after returning from surgery to have his retina re-attached.

Lock Luke Romano, who looks perhaps to be the new physical enforcer in the second row, looked the part with numerous cuts over his face.

The squad was tired as they were under instructions to stay awake early in the week to force their bodyclocks into adjustment with South African time.