Rugby: All Black duo struck down by injury

Highlanders and All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly is in doubt for the rest of the Super 14 with an ankle injury. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Injury has left veteran New Zealand forwards Tom Donnelly and Corey Flynn struggling for opportunities to retain their All Blacks jerseys in June.

Highlanders lock Donnelly and Crusaders hooker Flynn both toured with the All Blacks late last year and were involved with the season-finale thrashing of France in Marseille.

However, Donnelly, 28, is to undergo surgery on an ankle tomorrow and is likely to be ruled out of the rest of the Super 14 while Flynn, 29, is out for at least a month, also with an ankle problem.

Donnelly will have a pin inserted to relieve pain that has been bothering him all season and is likely to be sidelined for six weeks - which is about when the Super 14 regular season ends.

Donnelly forced his way into the All Blacks in place of Isaac Ross for the test defeat of Australia in Wellington last August and retained his place in the first choice locking combination alongside Brad Thorn.

"It's always tough, when you're not playing Super 14, to harbour any hope of getting back in the All Blacks," Donnelly told the Otago Daily Times.

"Probably, the NPC (for Otago) will be my next outing and we'll go from there."

Flynn took his test tally to seven when used against Italy and France last November but his dreadful run with injury has returned during the Super 14.

He has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture, an injury suffered in a pre-season match which was first regarded as a bad sprain. He played two matches off the reserve bench but scan results mean he won't be sighted again until early May at best.

Daniel Perrin has been called into the squad as cover for hooker Ti'i Paulo, who has started every Crusaders match this season.

- NZPA