All Blacks: Cruden hoping to be fit to meet South Africa

All Black Aaron Cruden. File photo / Getty Images

All Blacks first-five Aaron Cruden says there are positive signs that he will be fit for Saturday's test match against South Africa in Wellington.

Cruden missed last Saturday's 28-9 victory over Argentina in Napier due to a pectoral injury as Beauden Barrett was given his first start in the No 10 jersey for the All Blacks.

There was no major concern over Cruden's ailment but it was deemed prudent to rest him, while it served as an opportunity for Barrett to show his wares.

"The pec's feeling good," Cruden said this afternoon. "It responded really well to treatment last week and a little bit of rehab exercises. So I think we'll make a call over the next few days. We'll see if I can get through training tomorrow and if I can do a little bit of the contact stuff. Then if I get the ok from the medics and [I am] selected to play, I'll be really confident to get out there and do a job."

Considering Dan Carter (leg) remains on the sideline, the All Blacks have an embarrassment of riches at first-five, so coach Steve Hansen won't be facing too many sleepless nights given Barrett's performance was sound against Argentina, minus a couple of wayward goal kicks.

There were two major talking points from the weekend's Rugby Championship action, notably the performances of referees Pascal Gauzere and George Clancy.

Gauzere produced a howler when he denied Pumas No 8 Leonardo Senatore what could have been a game-changing try in Napier when the French whistleblower said Senatore had knocked the ball on rather than charged-down a kick.

Meanwhile, Clancy sent Springbok wing Bryan Habana to the sin-bin during their 24-23 loss to Australia in Perth on Saturday night for what the Irishman deemed to be a high tackle on Wallaby wing Adam Ashley-Cooper. Habana's arm appeared to only make contact with Ashley-Cooper's upper chest.

Cruden was sympathetic to the challenging job referees had and said he didn't think that greater influence from television replays was the answer.

"Personally, no. I think the refs are there for a job, they've been picked for a reason and whatever decisions they make, we have to live with it."

He also denied that the men with the whistle were a topic of discussion among the players.

The other water-cooler conversation starter came in the female form after a streaker made her way on to McLean Park on Saturday night.

The offender was able to give All Black fullback Israel Dagg a pat on his backside during her jaunt across the pitch but Cruden said he wasn't worried about his safety.

"Having one last week, I guess the security's going to be a lot more aware and more on guard this week; well, hopefully anyway," he said.

"I think [the security guards] probably just need to wear some rugby boots. I saw in Hawkes Bay a few of them were in sneakers and it was a pretty slippery out there."

When asked if an All Black should be worried about a naked woman entering the playing enclosure, Cruden smiled as he quipped: "Depends on the size of the naked woman."