All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will have his well known right foot operated on to remove the famous screw that did not succeed in it's quest to sideline the World Cup winning skipper, who played throughout despite having to regularly miss training sessions.
That malais also spread to the Crusaders, with coach Todd Blackadder admitting that for long periods throughout the 2011 Investec Super Rugby season McCaw had to be managed on the training field.
However a good off-season and a later entry into the 2012 Investec Super Rugby season should enable McCaw to break his record this season of playing in only six matches for the Crusaders.
Not only did his fifth metatarsal injury cause some problems, but concussion and calf injuries curtailed his appearances throughout the season.
While he did miss most of the Crusaders regular season games, as he did some pool matches at the World Cup -- McCaw played in the semi-final and final in Super Rugby, while playing the three knockout matches leading to their 8-7 victory over France to win New Zealand's second World Cup.
Blackadder, speaking to the NZ Herald, said that he expected McCaw to be prepared for a long season next year, with the World Cup winning captain likely to be ready for selection four to six weeks into their season.
The seven time champions kick off against the Blues at Eden Park on February 24.
"He will get a really good base and will be as fit and strong as ever," Blackadder said.
"He hasn't been able to train or function normally all year. We just had to manage him. That was probably highlighted in those high-pressure games when he wasn't as sharp as he could have been and that's fully understandable. I think for him next year he'll be absolutely good to go."
McCaw's recovery from surgery will take up to three months, but he will be ready for the All Blacks 2012 test season, beginning with a break from Super Rugby in June for the Steinlager Series against Ireland, where the victors against the Wallabies and losing quarter-finalists against Wales will line up for three-tests in the first matches with the All Blacks as World Champions.
There will then be the Investec Rugby Championship, with Argentina the fourth nation to join the Southern Hemisphere's premier tournament, where McCaw will try and again create history and win the first title of the new tournament that replaces the Tri Nations.
McCaw won four (of New Zealand's ten) Tri Nations as captain, a three year streak from 2006 to 2008, while he led the All Blacks to the title in 2010.
That malais also spread to the Crusaders, with coach Todd Blackadder admitting that for long periods throughout the 2011 Investec Super Rugby season McCaw had to be managed on the training field.
However a good off-season and a later entry into the 2012 Investec Super Rugby season should enable McCaw to break his record this season of playing in only six matches for the Crusaders.
Not only did his fifth metatarsal injury cause some problems, but concussion and calf injuries curtailed his appearances throughout the season.
While he did miss most of the Crusaders regular season games, as he did some pool matches at the World Cup -- McCaw played in the semi-final and final in Super Rugby, while playing the three knockout matches leading to their 8-7 victory over France to win New Zealand's second World Cup.
Blackadder, speaking to the NZ Herald, said that he expected McCaw to be prepared for a long season next year, with the World Cup winning captain likely to be ready for selection four to six weeks into their season.
The seven time champions kick off against the Blues at Eden Park on February 24.
"He will get a really good base and will be as fit and strong as ever," Blackadder said.
"He hasn't been able to train or function normally all year. We just had to manage him. That was probably highlighted in those high-pressure games when he wasn't as sharp as he could have been and that's fully understandable. I think for him next year he'll be absolutely good to go."
McCaw's recovery from surgery will take up to three months, but he will be ready for the All Blacks 2012 test season, beginning with a break from Super Rugby in June for the Steinlager Series against Ireland, where the victors against the Wallabies and losing quarter-finalists against Wales will line up for three-tests in the first matches with the All Blacks as World Champions.
There will then be the Investec Rugby Championship, with Argentina the fourth nation to join the Southern Hemisphere's premier tournament, where McCaw will try and again create history and win the first title of the new tournament that replaces the Tri Nations.
McCaw won four (of New Zealand's ten) Tri Nations as captain, a three year streak from 2006 to 2008, while he led the All Blacks to the title in 2010.
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