ABs cautious on full-backs

Monday 24th September 2007

Steve Hansen has said New Zealand will be taking a cautious approach with regard to the injuries to full-backs Leon MacDonald and Mils Muliaina.

MacDonald was forced from the field of play with a bruised thigh on Sunday, against Scotland, whilst Muliaina was also forced to withdraw from the game against Portugal in the opening exchanges with a hamstring problem.

"Leon MacDonald has got a haematoma of the thigh," Hansen told reporters on Monday.

"He's iced it quite aggressively during the night and appears to be a lot freer in his movements so we will see how he goes.

"Mils Muliaina is someone we are really looking at on a day by day process. He is making really good progress but whether we risk him (against Romania) with the type of injury he's got we'll have to wait and see, it is probably unlikely if there is any doubt at all."

Hansen said that injured lock Keith Robinson, the only player in the squad yet to play a game at the World Cup, was on target to play in the final pool game against Romania on Saturday.

"Keith Robinson is making really good progress and if we can get him through the early part of this week's training without any mishaps he should be available at the end of the week," he said.

The former Wales coach added that utility forward Reuben Thorne had felt no bad after-effects following his appearance in the Scotland match after recovering from a thigh injury.

"He came through the game really well which is a huge credit to him, the medical staff and our trainers. He hasn't played for a long time and to come out and play 80 minutes at the quality he did was outstanding."

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