The All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen says the injury situation with loose fowards Kieren Read and Adam Thomson is far from ideal but is relieved it's not much worse.
Read suffered a high ankle sprain which the All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson says is likely to keep him out until the All Blacks final World Cup pool game against Canada.
Thomson's elbow injury means he'll miss the tournament opener against Tonga.
Hansen says Read and Thomson will remain with the All Blacks squad as they undergo their rehabilitation.
They have loose forward cover with McCaw, Kaino and Vito, while there are a number of players outside the squad continuing to train.
The All Blacks squad assembles in Auckland on Friday to prepare for the opening match of Rugby World Cup against Tonga.
