All Blacks: Hamstring latest injury concern for Woodcock

Tony Woodcock. Photo / Getty Images

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Loosehead prop Tony Woodcock has added hamstring issues to his list of World Cup injury concerns.

Whether his latest scare removes him from Friday's start to the tournament will be revealed today when the All Blacks announce their side to play Tonga.

Assistant coach Steve Hansen thought the problem was some scar tissue and that the 76-test prop would be ready for action. His year has been blighted by a serious foot injury which took him out of rugby for months until he played in the last two All Black tests.

No 8 Kieran Read was recovering strongly from his ankle injury and, even if that took until the quarter-final, the All Blacks were prepared to wait, Hansen said. Fellow loose forward Adam Thomson should be fit to play Japan in the second round.

Seventeen of the All Black squad have yet to play in a World Cup with perhaps half a dozen likely to get their first tournament start at Eden Park.