All Blacks: Loss of Nonu balanced by returns from sick list

All Blacks take setbacks in their stride with Messam and Whitelock back in the frame.

Another player out - this time the previously indestructible Ma'a Nonu for the rest of the year - more players back in, including experienced forwards Sam Whitelock and Liam Messam. The All Black machine rolls on to Argentina and South Africa having once more proved it can cope with just about any setback.

Whitelock (rib cartilage) and Messam (quadriceps) could be available to play the Pumas in Buenos Aires on September 28, a timely return after the All Blacks only just survived the sternest examination from South Africa in Wellington on Saturday night.

A boost for Steve Hansen's midfield after Ben Smith was forced to play the second half at second-five is the return from a cheek injury of specialist Ryan Crotty. Malakai Fekitoa will also come into the frame but Crotty's reliability and coolness under fire could be crucial from the start against a Pumas team desperately unlucky not to at least draw against Australia on the Gold Coast.

The All Blacks have become more used to being without Nonu after a remarkable streak in which he has remained fit - niggling ankle injury apart. He was unavailable to play the Wallabies at Eden Park recently because of a shoulder injury, a test in which both Crotty and Fekitoa filled in seamlessly, and now he won't be seen on a rugby field until he plays for the Hurricanes.

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"It's disappointing for him and for us, but again, it creates an opportunity for someone like Ryan Crotty once he's cleared to play, plus Malakai for that matter," Hansen said yesterday. "It's disappointing but there's not much we can do about it."

Nonu went under the knife yesterday and has had a plate inserted in his left forearm. He is expected to make a full recovery after suffering the injury in the latter stages of the first half and playing on until half-time.

"I guess it shows what adrenaline and a little bit of guts can do," Hansen said. "He knew he'd done something but he wasn't sure. And then once the doc got him at halftime the doc said 'you can't go back'."

Apart from Nonu's problem, the All Blacks were remarkably injury-free despite the intensity of the collisions in the 14-10 victory at Westpac Stadium. Hooker Dane Coles sported stitches near an eye yesterday, one of the few obvious signs of what had occurred the night before.

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A squad of 30 will fly out of Auckland next Saturday for Buenos Aires, including flanker Jerome Kaino, who has almost recovered from his hyper-extended elbow injury and took part in the warm-up in Wellington.

Having the skilful Whitelock and busy Messam back in the frame will be important for the All Blacks, who struggled at times in the set piece areas and breakdown. Hansen also confirmed he would call up another, as yet unnamed, hooker once Dane Coles returns to Wellington from Argentina to be at the impending birth of his son.

"Both of them have recovered very, very well," Hansen said of Whitelock and Messam. "It was great work from the medical staff and themselves actually, they've worked really hard."

Another on the brink of a return is Dan Carter, who is poised to play for Canterbury in the ITM Cup after breaking a leg in the Super Rugby final. Hansen said Carter would play two matches for Canterbury before possibly being available for the test against Australia in Brisbane on October 18.