Woodcock worries for All Blacks
All Black loosehead prop Tony Woodcock is the only injury concern for the world champions following their 27-19 win over the Wallabies at the weekend.
The World Cup-winning veteran suffered a minor rib injury that saw him leave the field gingerly in the 64th minute of the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney.
All Black coach Steve Hansen confirmed Woodcock as the only concern and expressed his satisfaction with the front row’s “dominating” display.
It was the first time since last year’s World Cup final that Woodcock, Keven Mealamu and Owen Franks scrummed down as a combination, and the rib injury is now threatening to end the reunion ahead of Saturday’s return fixture in Auckland.
Hansen said in terms of the Bledisloe Cup, the job is only half done and warned that they won’t be resting on their laurels.
"If we go home and think we've done the job already then it's a recipe for disaster," he said.
Despite never looking in danger of losing the match, the All Blacks were unable to put their rivals away and it took an 80th minute penalty to deny Australia a losing bonus point.
Hansen said his charges’ inability to finish off the match was partly due to them being “rusty.”
"It's probably not the most perfect game in the world," conceded Hansen.
"But when you get two sides coming off the breaks we've had, playing at the intensity we're playing, there's going to be errors.
"There were a couple of opportunities, Australia had a couple too, and the reason you're not taking them is you're a bit rusty."
