Monday, 9 September 2013 00:00
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New Zealand flyhalf Daniel Carter became the first man to reach 1,400 test points to help his side to a 28-13 Rugby Championship win over Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday, though the victory was tempered by a serious knee injury to skipper Richie McCaw.
McCaw, who had only recently returned to rugby after a six-month sabbatical, suffered what coach Steve Hansen thought was a torn medial ligament in his left knee after prop Charlie Faumuina had fallen on the flanker’s leg in a tackle.
“It was a bit more serious. It looks like he’s done a medial. How bad? It’s not grade one, it will be a two, three or four,” Hansen said when asked of the severity of McCaw’s injury picked up in a match played at a rain-lashed Waikato Stadium.
Grade one injuries are the lowest level with grade two indicating at least a partial tear of the ligament.
Hansen said later that McCaw was likely to be out of action for up to five weeks, ensuring he will miss the remainder of the four-nation tournament.
New Zealand, who had beaten Australia in their opening two games of the southern hemisphere competition, host South Africa in Auckland next week.
