EYE ON GOAL: Jerome Kaino was hoping to play in Samoa.PHOTO/FILE
JEROME Kaino is in a race against time to be available for July's historic All Blacks test against Samoa in Apia.
The Blues loose forward and skipper had surgery on the finger of his left hand on Sunday after a dislocation suffered in the 41-24 victory over the Force at Eden Park and is expected to be out for eight weeks. The test at Apia Park will be held 10 weeks from today.
Kaino's surgery involved the re-dislocation of the finger - the bone of which pierced his skin - in order for the joint to be cleaned due to the danger of infection.
It has been set in a splint to help the damaged ligaments re-attach and Kaino must return to the specialist in 10 days before he gets the all clear to start light training. The joint is currently swollen and bruised - pain killers did little to help him sleep after the match on Saturday night.
All of which means Kaino will have very little rugby behind him ahead of a test which has a special significance. Kaino was born in American Samoa but his family are all of Western Samoan heritage and he was looking forward to returning. "It's a huge test to try to be available for," he said. "I don't think they'll ever have another one over there. It's one for the history books and I'd love to be involved.
"Match fitness is the big one," he said when asked about the biggest barrier to his availability. "I'm lucky I can still hop on a bike and do other things. And in a couple of weeks I'll probably be able to run. But it's the game fitness where you're taking the hits and knocks, that's the biggest concern for me because by the time I'm available we're right into the All Blacks season. Apart from that test there isn't any other rugby where I can get match fit."
Kaino's only option would be a rare appearance or two for his University club.
The test in Apia on July 8 - a Wednesday - will be held four days after the Super Rugby final. With the Blues out of the playoffs, a fit Kaino would have been a near certainty to start.
Liam Messam, his rival for the No6 jersey, is part of a Chiefs team fourth on the table and second in the New Zealand conference behind the high-flying Hurricanes. Both teams - along with the Highlanders - are firmly in title contention which could present problems for the All Blacks selectors.
Blues loose forward Steven Luatua will be in the frame, as will Crusaders Kieran Read and Richie McCaw should their team not make the playoffs.
After the Samoa test the All Blacks go straight into a Rugby Championship which will be played over three rounds starting with Argentina in Christchurch.
Kaino said he hadn't heard from the All Blacks selectors, but that captain McCaw had been in touch.
"I got a message from Richie the other day asking how the injury was so I sent him a text with a picture of the dislocation. He was quite impressed."
-Hurricanes and All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett has suffered a grade two tear of his medial collateral ligament and has been ruled out for four weeks.
"Obviously I'm gutted with the injury, but fortunately it's not season-ending for me," said Barrett.
The Hurricanes, the competition leaders, are hopeful Barrett will be available for selection for their match against the Crusaders in Nelson on May 29.
NZME.