Rugby: Liam Squire set for spell on sidelines with broken thumb

Liam Squire. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Liam Squire is the latest All Black injury casualty – the loose forward leaving his team's victory over the Crusaders in Dunedin with a broken thumb.

Squire will be out of the game for up to six weeks, but a positive for coach Aaron Mauger is the way Elliot Dixon performed as Squire's replacement in the second half of the 25-17 win.

Dixon, back from injury himself, was back to the form which won him three test caps in 2016 as his side maintained their perfect record this season.

"He just got a bang on the thumb, it was a bit sore," Mauger said of Squire, who broke a thumb last year. "We've got a fantastic bench, and I thought Elliot [Dixon] did a great job [after replacing him]."

The Highlanders' next task – another New Zealand derby game, this time against the Hurricanes in Wellington - is just as significant, and both Mauger's team and the Crusaders will take some time to recover from the brutal nature of their clash in Dunedin.

Already hit hard by injury, with skipper Sam Whitelock ruled out on the eve of the game due to concussion, midfielder Jack Goodhue spent a large part of the first half having a deep facial cut stitched and players from both teams looked out on their feet at times such was the aerobic toll.

It was frenetic stuff played at an extremely high intensity, and the Crusaders might be glad to get some respite from it – their next match against a New Zealand opponent isn't until May 19, by which time they should have the use of their injured all Blacks, including Kieran Read, Joe Moody, Owen Franks and Richie Mo'unga.

The defending champions, fifth on the table, will be favourites to beat the Bulls in Christchurch on Friday, but the South Africans gave the Chiefs a fright in Hamilton.

The Bulls led 21-7 before the Chiefs, inspired by lock Brodie Retallick, launched their comeback but two tries in the final six minutes for a 41-28 final score put a gloss on a performance that they probably didn't deserve.

The Blues, 37-20 losers to the Stormers in Cape Town, are the only New Zealand team not in the top eight.

The Hurricanes, fourth on the overall table, one place below the Highlanders, maintained their position despite having a bye.