A serious shoulder injury to the Crusaders Lock Dominic Bird may have thrust Hurricane Jeremy Thrush into the All Blacks for next weekend's Test against France.
The uncapped international Bird was called into the All Black training squad last week
but ruptured his left pectoralis major tendon during last night's 23-22 win over the Waratahs.
He'll require surgery later this week.
Kieren Read who suffered a head knock in that game is feeling much better today.
Thrush is also without international experience and was a late call up for the training camps after Ali Williams announced his retirement from Test rugby last week.
