All Blacks: Vito focuses on recovery

Vivtor Vito has stitches for a cut over his eye. Photo / Brett Phibbs

All Blacks flanker Victor Vito has been ruled out of the game for up to five weeks but is attempting to put his disappointment to one side for the good of the team.

It was confirmed today that the Hurricanes player has a grade two medial strain in his left knee and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, ruling him out of the remaining tests against Ireland in Christchurch and Hamilton.

"I can't lie, it's pretty gutting but at the end of the day I can only take hold of the controllables and that's look after my recovery and have a really good attitude about doing what I can to get back as soon as and just help the team where I can," he said.

Vito, looking to make the blindside flanker position his own in the absence of Jerome Kaino, left the field in the first test against Ireland at Eden Park with blood streaming from his head after a collision with Brian O'Driscoll.

It was after his head had been attended to that the extent of his knee injury became known.

"The blood was was a good excuse to come off but they reassessed and saw that my knee wasn't quite right either so it was probably the right call to stay off the field, and especially with the results that have come out."

Coach Steve Hansen said Highlanders loose forward Adam Thomson would take Vito's position on the side of the scrum for Saturday's test in Christchurch, with Sam Cane brought on to the reserves bench as cover.

Although Crusaders youngster Luke Whitelock trained with the team in very cold conditions at Linwood Rugby Club today, Liam Messam has been placed on standby at loose forward, and will be added to the squad in the event of another injury.

Chiefs player Messam will train with the All Blacks in Hamilton next week ahead of the third test at Waikato Stadium.

Messam was omitted from the original 35-player training squad for the series but Hansen said that had nothing to do with his ability.

"We said right at the beginning that we knew as much as needed to know about Liam and there was no point in bringing him into the camp," Hansen said. "We wanted to learn about Luke and young Brad Shields because we didn't know anything about them and both are quality young men. We also said we would bring people in outside of that 35. Liam has had a very good season. He's been consistent. He deserves his opportunity if he gets one."