All Blacks pay dear price for rout
New Zealand have paid a dear price for their 68-point rout of the United States, with two All Blacks ruled out of the remainder of the year-end tour.
Wing Cory Jane and hooker Nathan Harris will miss the rest of the All Blacks' tour, after being injured in the crushing 74-6 defeat of the US Eagles in Chicago at the weekend.
The blow comes ahead of the Kiwis' first real Test of the trip, when they play England this coming Saturday.
Jane picked up a hamstring injury in the first half at Soldier Field, while Harris limped off with an ankle ligament injury only minutes after scoring a try in his first Test start.
Star code jumper Sonny Bill Williams left the field in the second half with a hip injury, but the word from the All Blacks camp is that he will be fine in a few days.
The replacements for Jane and Harris won't be confirmed until the squad arrive in London on Monday ahead of their Test at Twickenham.
Harris had hoped the injury wasn't serious, but the 22-year-old learned on Sunday he had torn medial ligaments which will take six weeks to heal.
Jane suffered a grade one hamstring injury.
Coach Steve Hansen said while the injury may have cleared in time to play the final tour Test against Wales on November 22, it wasn't worth taking the risk he could re-damage it.
Hansen indicated 31-year-old Hurricanes flyer Jane remains strongly in contention for a World Cup spot next year.
"It's not that big a setback really. We know he's a world class player and he's shown us that throughout the season at times," he said.
"It's just a matter of coming back and playing a good Super season. He'll be a pretty hard man to leave out of the squad again."
Hansen feels for two-Test rake Harris, 22, who was starting to settle well in his first season in the top flight.
His departure opens the door for another youngster in a position lacking depth behind Dane Coles and veteran Keven Mealamu.
"Sometimes when you're forced to go to the well, you find a gem. Hopefully we find a gem."
Taranaki's Rhys Marshall and Otago's Liam Coltman have previously taken part in an All Blacks hooker "apprentice" programme, training with the squad ahead of Tests.
They could have the front-running although another uncapped hooker, seasoned Blues rake James Parsons, is in London following his involvement in the Barbarians international against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
Two New Zealand wings in the Barbarians squad, Frank Halai and Patrick Osborne, have the inside running to replace Jane.
Halai played his only Test last year against Japan but has fallen out of favour this year.
Osborne was called into the squad as injury cover midway through the home series against England in June.
"There's potential replacements all over the place, to be fair. It's just a matter of who we choose," Hansen said.
Sources: OneNews & NZ Newswire
