The All Blacks' defence of the World Cup feels jinxed. Good men are dropping all over the place.
Conrad Smith is the latest, suffering concussion against the Chiefs in Wellington. He wasn't playing all that well anyway in the big New Zealand derby, and nor was hisfellow test veteran Cory Jane.
The depth of New Zealand rugby is amazing, highlighted by a storming return to the limelight by Hosea Gear for the Chiefs. But the cream of the crop are filling the casualty ward.
Selector Grant Fox told the TV audience before the match that the All Blacks were hoping not to lose anyone else. This was like official recognition of the jinx.
The missing men may be gone, but they aren't forgotten. Top of the list is Beauden Barrett.
The pacesetting Hurricanes aren't the same without his flying feet and sharp eyes which make something out of nothing so often.
They should have put the injury-ravaged Chiefs away, because the visitors had run out of locks by halftime and lost a man to the sin bin early in the second. Their pack, full of loose forwards, would have been drained by the set piece requirements. But they clung on, with Liam Messam leading the rearguard actions and they were oh so close to victory.
The Chiefs have had many memorable moments under Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith. As the crowd chanted for the Hurricanes, the Chiefs refused to yield. Under the circumstances, this was one of their finest performances despite the defeat.
