Rugby World Cup
Steve Hansen plays down Richie McCaw injury fears
AAP
October 8, 2015

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has dismissed any injury anxiety surrounding All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

McCaw will miss his team's final Pool C game against Tonga in Newcastle on Friday after suffering a bang on his thigh during the victory over Georgia last week, but Hansen said "if we were playing a final he would be fine".

"But we are just not prepared to take any risks with anyone that is not 100%," Hansen said. "He got a bang on his thigh and it's just really sore when he stretches out at top-medium pace, so it is just not worth risking it.

"We've had plenty of gasps from home before, but we're OK with it and the people that are anxious about it don't need to be anxious. If this was the quarterfinal, he would be playing.

"We've got enough depth to be able to say, 'hey, we don't have to risk people if they're not 100%'."

Kieran Read takes over leadership duties in McCaw's absence, while centre Ma'a Nonu will become the sixth All Black to win 100 Test caps - after McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Dan Carter and Mils Muliaina.

© AAP

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