Any plans the All Black selectors plans had for Scott Waldrom to back up to skipper Richie McCaw in the openside flanker role have been dealt a blow with Hurricanes player suffering a severe back injury.
Waldrom broke three bones in his back in last week's Super 14 semi final loss to the Chiefs and is now in a brace and faces ten weeks of rehabilitation.
The injury ends any prospect of him being included in the All Blacks squad to play Italy and France next month, after being part of the All Blacks end of year tour last year.
