Rugby World Cup: McCaw plays through pain barrier

Richie McCaw missed the Canada clash to concentrate on the quarter-final against the Pumas on Sunday. Photo / Brett Phibbs

All Black captain Richie McCaw will play through the pain barrier, but faces repeat foot surgery after the Rugby World Cup campaign.

McCaw's season has been hampered since he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot in February. He had surgery and missed the first two months of the Super 15 season.

Mid-series, McCaw had more troubles and the problem has flared up again recently with the loose forward on a restricted practice workload.

Those who move in circles close to the team say McCaw will play the rest of the tournament, regardless of his discomfort. He will get by on treatment, painkillers and willpower, but may need another operation once the All Blacks end their campaign.

McCaw is even more determined to survive and lead his team after the shock exit of first five-eighths Daniel Carter with a torn tendon in his groin.

Just hours before that training ground accident in Wellington, McCaw had withdrawn from the All Blacks' last pool game against Canada because of ongoing soreness in his foot.

Earlier in the tournament he had missed what would have been his 100th test, against Japan in Hamilton, when he strained his right calf muscle.

McCaw has played against Tonga and France in the World Cup with all the focus now on his expected return for Sunday's quarter-final against Argentina at Eden Park. That side will be announced tomorrow.

The 30-year-old captain's foot troubles became public in February when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot and had surgery to insert a screw in the fifth metatarsal.

He returned for the Crusaders in mid-April, lasted 30 minutes, then withdrew from the next match because of ongoing problems. The injury flared again towards the end of the Crusaders' campaign before McCaw played in the Super 15 semifinal win against the Stormers and the final against the Reds.

He played three straight tests against Fiji, the Springboks and Wallabies and was then rested from the side's trip to South Africa.

There were no more hints of repeat trouble until McCaw stood down last week against Canada.

'Whenever you have bits of metal put in your foot, there's a possibility of having these things," he said. "It is something I have managed all through the year. I got through training yesterday fine. I wanted to get ready for next week [the quarter-final against Argentina], that is why this decision has been made.

"I was pretty keen to play but with the knockout match I wanted to be ready to go. It was a bit frustrating but it is a niggle I have dealt with for a while."

Good buddy Ali Williams gave a buoyant report yesterday. "He went well, full training, I have given him a medical pass," the lock said.

Attempts to get a report on McCaw's metatarsal from the All Black medical team were unsuccessful.