Rugby World Cup: Todd trains with All Blacks

Matt Todd on the attack for the Crusaders during the Super 15 rugby competition. Photo / Getty Images

Flanker Matt Todd is in Auckland training with the All Blacks as fears over Richie McCaw's fitness continue.

There was no sign of captain McCaw during the final 15 minutes of All Blacks training at Waitakere Trusts Stadium in Auckland open to media but it is understood he trained lightly with the team for some of the session.

Last Wednesday, ahead of the Argentina quarter-final, McCaw trained to the end of the session, albeit in running shoes.

His very short training time and the fact that Canterbury and Crusaders openside specialist Todd is in Auckland attending sessions will increase concerns ahead of Sunday's World Cup semifinal against Australia at Eden Park.

It is understood Todd is not staying with the All Blacks - World Cup protocols dictate that players can only be brought into the squad as replacements - but he has been put on standby in case McCaw's foot injury worsens. Todd will be getting schooled up in the All Blacks lineout calls and other strategies in case he has to join the squad.

Todd's presence is also an insurance against further mishaps among the other loose forwards. There are question marks over the fitness of Adam Thomson, who is recovering from an ankle injury and didn't make the match-day 22 for the Argentina game, and No8 Kieran Read has played only two games at this tournament due to an ankle injury which he carried into it.

McCaw has been in pain for several months after having a screw inserted into a bone in his right foot at the start of the year. The injury forced him to pull out of the Canada pool game, and he was also a late scratching from the Japan pool game due to a calf injury. He played in the pool matches against Tonga and France and played for 73 minutes against Argentina.

Injuries to All Blacks Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Mils Muliaina already have resulted in call-ups to Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald and Hosea Gear. Cruden is likely to start at first-five against the Wallabies on Sunday, with Donald as cover on the reserves bench.