Serious injuries put front rowers in jeopardy for Grand Slam tour

Auckland hooker Derren Witcombe lost feeling in his arms and legs. Ross Land / Getty Images

Frontrowers Derren Witcombe and Greg Somerville must be unlikely participants in the NPC and subsequent All Black tour after both fell to serious injury in the final Ranfurly Shield challenge.

There were fears for Witcombe's health after he lost the feeling in his arms and legs when a scrum twisted and collapsed on top of him.

Initial x-rays revealed no structural damage as the hooker started to recover in hospital in Christchurch.

He was later discharged and was allowed to fly home to Auckland yesterday with his neck supported by a heavy brace.

Witcombe told team-mates he felt something pop in his neck and he will have further scans today on the injury.

Fellow All Black squad member Somerville will also be better assessed today after tearing his right calf muscle in the opening minute of Canterbury's successful Shield defence.

The tighthead prop, who has been used more on the loosehead by Canterbury this season, limped away after an early move and was replaced by Wyatt Crockett.

Witcombe had an eventful time in the scrums. He was treated in the bloodbin after one scrum skirmish before he was left prone on the ground after another first-half scrum collapsed.

With the All Black squad for the Grand Slam trip due to be announced the day after the October 22 NPC final, there is little time for Somerville and Witcombe to recover.

Anton Oliver, Andrew Hore and Corey Flynn are hookers who could join Keven Mealamu but Somerville's absence would open up plenty of debate about settling on someone capable of backing up Tony Woodcock at loosehead prop.

While that will tax the national panel, All Black coach Graham Henry and his selectors were boosted by the return of five-eighths Daniel Carter.

Two months after breaking his left leg against the Wallabies, Carter kicked off the shield defence as though his limb was still sore.

The ball travelled only a few metres and Carter confessed he thought the omens were not good.

"It was a scary thing, the nerves were building up and the question was how would I cope," he said.

"I was scratchy for a start but the leg feels fine, it was not restricting me."

Carter quickly regained his composure, felt his fitness was fairly useful and also banged over several difficult kicks outside Ben Blair's range.