Monday 6 October 2014 07:23, UK
New Zealand scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow will miss the autumn tour of Britain after tearing knee ligaments.
Kerr-Barlow suffered the injury during Saturday's defeat by South Africa - a 27-25 reverse which ended the All Blacks' 22-match unbeaten run.
He is due to have an operation back in New Zealand and could now be out for nine months, leaving Steve Hansen assessing alternatives for upcoming Tests against Australia, USA, England, Scotland and Wales.
Hanse said: "He needs an operation when we get home. Sometimes they do two operations but he's about a six-to-nine month recovery so it's pretty major."
Counties Manukau's Augustine Pulu and North Harbour and Blues halfback Bryn Hall are among the candidates to replace Kerr-Barlow.
Meanwhile, plans to recall fly-half Dan Carter for the October 18 Australia game in Brisbane could be on hold after he strained a calf muscle.
Carter is continuing his comeback from a broken leg, but the latest injury has forced him to miss mroe provincial rugby.
Hansen said: "We were hoping he'd get another (game) and then probably take him to Brisbane.
"I'll have to have a chat to him when we get home to see where he is at and see whether we give him another game, miss the Brisbane one and he plays again if Canterbury make the semi-finals or finals.
"We want to bring him in when he's feeling confident rather than trying to bring him in and play his way through something.
"We did that for him last time and it became a nightmare. If we can bring him in when he's injury free and confident in himself we'll get the real Dan Carter."
