The All Blacks captain Richie McCaw would probably expect to be rested for this weekend's tour match against Italy, but he could start again now Adam Thomson has been banned.
The Otago flanker was cited for stamping on the head of the Scotland loose forward Alasdair Strokosch on Monday morning in Edinburgh, and his fate was sealed on Thursday when he copped what appears to be a light one-match ban - though the IRB may review his punishment.
Since their shaky 28-23 win over Tonga last weekend, the Azzurri flanker Simone Favaro says the opportunity to take on the world champions has changed the whole atmosphere in the team.
