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All Blacks boosted by injury news
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) -- All Blacks loose forward Jerry Collins has been cleared of any serious injury and should be available for the side's World Cup quarter-final against South Africa on Saturday. Collins was substituted after 52 minutes of New Zealand's final pool D match, a 53-37 victory over Wales in Sydney on Sunday. Team doctor John Mayhew also revealed that injured vice-captain Tana Umaga should be fit for selection. "Jerry had a nasty blow to his ribs (and) we were initially worried he had broken a rib or damaged his kidneys," Mayhew told reporters at the team's training base in Melbourne. "We have done a x-ray which shows no fracture and a CT scan of his chest and abdomen which showed no significant injury there. "He has a rib cartilage injury and is still very uncomfortable but there is no serious underlying pathology." Mayhew said there was no medical reason why Collins could not be available for selection for the quarter-final at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium, but the team management would need to monitor his pain levels. Umaga ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the All Blacks opening pool D victory over Italy and has missed the last three games. But Mayhew said Umaga would train with the team tomorrow and he was confident the 30-year-old centre would be available for selection. "He is progressing very well (and) we have to see how he gets through training but medically there is a terrific chance he will be available." Injured lock Chris Jack should also be available, Mayhew said. Jack sprained his ankle in training before the match against Tonga on October 24 and missed the All Blacks final two pool encounters. The All Blacks are expected to name their side for the quarter-final on Wednesday. Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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