Rugby World Cup 2011
Weepu played through the pain
ESPNscrum Staff
October 26, 2011
All Black scrum-half Piri Weepu leads the Haka, New Zealand v France, Rugby World Cup Final, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, October 23, 2011
Piri Weepu was struggling with a groin problem whilst leading the All Blacks through the haka © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Piri Weepu
Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup
Teams: France | New Zealand

New Zealand's Piri Weepu has admitted that he suffered an injury in the warm-up ahead of Sunday's Rugby World Cup final showdown with France.

The 28-year-old scrum-half strained a groin muscle shortly before kick-off but decided against withdrawing from the All Blacks starting line-up given the enormity of the occasion.

Weepu did not like his usual dynamic self during the game in Auckland and was unusually wasteful off the kicking tee, missing three kicks on goal before being hauled off on 50 minutes.

However, even after realising that he was being severely handicapped by the injury, he did not want to leave the field of play.

"I wasn't ready to come off," Weepu said. "I had a tweak of my groin before the game started and I guess the coaches were only looking out for what was best for the team."

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