Rugby: Woodcock poised to return

Tony Woodcock. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Injured All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock is poised to finally make a return to the rugby field.

Woodcock was absent for large parts of the Blues campaign with a foot injury that took longer than expected to heal, but is now running and can apply pressure to the foot.

He's set to sit out much of the Tri Nations campaign but is targeting some provincial rugby to get back into shape.

Woodcock says the All Blacks coaches will map it out for him, but ideally he'd play a couple of ITM Cup matches before getting test rugby under his belt.

The All Blacks head into a two day training camp in Auckland today with centre Richard Kahui under an injury cloud as he battles a hamstring strain.

Fullbacks Isaia Toeava and Israel Dagg unlikely to see any game time during the Tri Nations.

- NEWSTALK ZB