All Blacks: McCaw on mend after removal of foot screw

Richie McCaw effectively played through the knockout phase of the World Cup with a broken foot. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The troublesome screw has been removed.

World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw underwent surgery in Christchurch yesterday to remove the tiny piece of titanium that gave him so much grief this year.

All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson declared the surgery a success.

"Richie's surgery today went very well," she said. "The screw was removed and he also received a bone graft."

McCaw had the screw inserted into the fifth metatarsal on his right foot after suffering a stress fracture during pre-season training with the Crusaders at the start of the year.

The procedure and recovery saw him miss the first seven weeks of the Crusaders' campaign.

That was not the end of his problems, however. McCaw was noticeably off the pace during his fleeting appearances in the Super 15 and, like Chinese whispers, tales of McCaw's health grew more alarmist as the World Cup approached.

After McCaw missed his second game in pool play against Canada, the worst fears seemed to be confirmed. At that point it became difficult to tell what pained the All Blacks captain and coaching staff more, the screw or the constant questions over his fitness.

McCaw battled his way through the knockouts, sealing his place in legend along the way, though it was no surprise when it was announced that he would require off-season surgery and that he had, in effect, been playing on a broken foot.

"In addition, he had an x-ray prior to surgery which showed the bone had started to heal to some extent in the four weeks since the end of the Rugby World Cup, which is good news," Robinson said.

McCaw will be in plaster for a fortnight and then a moon boot for a month. In about three months time he will begin running, before beginning specific rugby training.

He is expected to miss the start of the Super 15 season but should be back in business by mid- to late-March.