Hansen: Waisake Naholo on track for World Cup

Waisake Naholo during an open training session held at the Trusts Stadium yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

All Blacks coach Steven Hansen had revealed that one of his biggest attacking weapons for the Rugby World Cup is on track to make his mark on the tournament.

Rookie winger Waisake Naholo was diagnosed with a cracked fibula after a Rugby Championship match in Christchurch against Argentina last month. All Blacks medical staff said at the time it was a potential season-ending injury with a three-month recovery period.

But 24-year-old Naholo immediately flew back to the village of Nadroumai in his native Fiji on the advice of his uncle Isei Naiova who said he could cure him in time for the World Cup.

Locally grown kawakawarau leaves were wrapped around his legs. After four days, the leaves were removed.

Hansen told media today that the big winger remains on track to play in the pool match against Georgia in Cardiff on October 3.

"His rehab is coming along really good. He trained today and as everyday goes past he gets better and better, Hansen said.

"He's on track to do what we're expecting him to do which is be available for Georgia."

Hansen, who was an assistant coach at the last World Cup in 2011, said players were clearly excited to get to London and begin their World Cup campaign, despite it being 10 days out from the tournament, saying that's a good thing.

Yesterday prop Wyatt Crockett told media the World Cup couldn't arrive soon enough.

"That's the energy and excitement you want in them," Hansen said.

"You don't want to be curbing anyone's enthusiasm. It's the pinnacle of anyone's rugby career... you want them to be excited and energised by that. We've just go to keep feeding it and hoping it keeps growing and growing and their confidence grows with it."

The All Blacks open the tournament against Rugby Championship rivals Argentina in London on September 19.