All Blacks captain Richie McCaw faces a lengthy rehabilitation after undergoing surgery to repair the foot injury that caused considerable national anxiety during the recent Rugby World Cup.
McCaw is expected to be out for 10 to 12 weeks and will miss the start of the 2012 Super 15 tournament.
The 30-year-old open side flanker had a screw removed from his right foot and received a bone graft in an operation performed on Thursday. New Zealand team doctor Deb Robinson says the procedure went well.
McCaw was troubled by the injury in the later stages of New Zealand's recent World Cup win, taking only a limited part in training during the final weeks of the tournament.
(Sapa, November 2011)
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