Rugby: More surgery for McCaw's foot

Richie McCaw is hoping to ease back into rugby action next week after several surgeries. Photo / Getty

All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw's recovery from the injury that threatened his World Cup campaign continued today when he had surgery to remove two small screws from his right foot.

Crusaders and All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said the procedure was planned and had gone well.

It is understood the operation, which required two small incisions, will not affect plans to ease McCaw back into rugby action next week.

He is set to train with the Crusaders after they complete their South African tour with a game against the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday.

"He is running really well and training," Robinson said from Johannesburg last night. "We are really happy with his progress and Richie is really positive too."

The timetable is in line with predictions in mid-February, when it was hoped McCaw would be close to a return by the end of March.

He had another screw removed in late November after enduring a painful 2011.

That titanium screw had been inserted into the fifth metatarsal in McCaw's right foot after he suffered a stress fracture during training with the Crusaders before the Super Rugby season.

The procedure and recovery saw him miss the first seven weeks of the campaign and forced him to battle through the pain barrier during the World Cup.

McCaw battled his way through the knockouts but it was no surprise when it was announced that he would require off-season surgery and had, in effect, been playing on a broken foot.