New Zealand
Tony Woodcock ruled out for remainder of season
ESPN Staff
August 8, 2014
Tony Woodcock has been in pain this season
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Tony Woodcock will miss the remainder of the season to undergo shoulder surgery, while Dominic Bird has been sidelined for three weeks with turf toe. Crusaders loose-head Joe Moody has replaced Woodcock in the All Blacks' squad for the Rugby Championship, with his team-mate Wyatt Crockett set to start against Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup Test at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on August 16. The pair's team-mate Bird has been replaced in the squad by Hurricanes second-row Jeremy Thrush. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said the loss of the 110-Test Woodcock for the rest of the year was a negative for the team but "every dark cloud has a bit of silver lining, and, for him, it will be the opportunity to do something he hasn't done for 12 seasons and that's get a good off-season,'' Hansen said. ''It will be important because it will freshen him up and I'm pretty sure he'll be hungry getting into it next year.'' © ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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