Wing Waisake Naholo will make a World Cup debut for New Zealand on Friday – 10 weeks after breaking his leg.
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Naholo suffered a hairline fracture during the Rugby Championship game against Argentina in mid-July, and his recovery process included a trip to Fiji, where his uncle adopted traditional healing methods such as putting leaves on Naholo’s leg.
“It is exciting for us to have him back,” New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said, after naming a team to face Pool C opponents Georgia that shows 10 changes from the side that accounted for Namibia last week.
“There has been a lot of talk about a miracle cure, but he has come back when we expected him to. I think it’s a wee bit strong to say he broke his leg. He only really had a small stress crack in it.
“To have a guy who probably was the player of the Super Rugby season gives us genuine pace and ability to beat people. It’s exciting to have someone like that in your group.
“To have him out on the track after the disappointment of thinking we weren’t going to be able to select him, to get a second chance is wonderful. He has worked extremely hard, as have the medical staff with him, to get him to where we have. We are extremely confident he is ready to play.”
Meanwhile, the All Blacks have again been hit by the fly-half curse having only Dan Carter fit to play.
Both back up No. 10s, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade are on the injured list, as is centre Ma’a Nonu who remains stranded on 99 Tests.
Hansen has been forced to name two scrum-halves in the replacements with TJ Perenara covering fly-half and Tawera Kerr-Barlow as back up to first-choice number nine Aaron Smith.
17-7-15, Waisake Naholo breaks his leg on his #NZL debut. 30-9-15, Naholo is named to start against #GEO at #RWC2015 pic.twitter.com/js3Fzm33qD
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) September 30, 2015
Hansen said the injuries, which have also sidelined loose forward Liam Messam, were not serious and they are all expected to be available for selection next week when the unbeaten All Blacks play their final Pool C game against Tonga.
In the last World Cup, the All Blacks lost Carter and Slade during the tournament, Aaron Cruden limped off during the final and fourth-string pivot Stephen Donald came on to kick the winning penalty in the 8-7 victory over France.
Hansen, who had said he wanted to play his top side against Georgia, a team the world champions have never faced before, has also sprung a surprise in the front row relegating regular starting props Tony Woodcock and Owen Franks to the bench.
Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina will start in their place in an otherwise predictable side.
Sonny Bill Williams, who has been the standout performer in the All Blacks opening wins over Argentina and Namibia, will partner Conrad Smith in the centres. Wing Julian Savea starts his third consecutive match while Ben Smith returns at full-back.
The Millennium Stadium meeting with Georgia should see New Zealand tighten their grip at the top of Pool C.
“Georgia aren’t a team who we know a lot about,” Hansen said. “It’s hard to get footage from afar, but we have enough of it.
“They are big, physical, strong men, and they will try to play a game to dominate the set-piece and slow it down a bit.”
Georgia, though, have rested many of their top performers with one eye firmly on their subsequent meeting with fellow minnows Namibia.
Victory in that game would put them on course for third place in the group and with it automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
