All Blacks and Blues prop Tony Woodcock will miss the rest of the international rugby season as he needs surgery on his shoulder.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen revealed on Friday that the 110-Test veteran will be out of action for five months ruling him our for the season.
Hansen also said that Crusaders lock Dominic Bird will be out of action for three weeks with a toe strain.
The All Black coach said that thirty-three-year-old Woodcock’s injury would have the added bonus of giving his body a proper period of rest so he will be fresh for the defence of their World Cup title in England next year.
“Every dark cloud has a bit of silver lining and for him it will be an opportunity to do something he hasn’t done for 12 seasons, and that’s get a good off-season,” he told reporters.
“That will be important because it will freshen him up and he’ll be hungry to get into it next year.”
Hansen said that he has called uncapped Joe Moody into the squad to replace Woodcock but he is likely to start Wyatt Crockett is set to start as loosehead prop in the Rugby Championship opener.
Hurricanes second rower Jeremy Thrush will replace Bird in the New Zealand Rugby Championship squad.
The All Blacks start their Rugby Championship in Sydney against Australia in Sydney on August the 16th.
