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McCaw surgery successful

Christchurch - Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will be out for up to three months after undergoing successful surgery on his injured right foot, the New Zealand team doctor confirmed on Thursday.

"Richie's surgery went very well," said All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson. "The screw was removed and he also received a bone graft.

"In addition, he had an x-ray prior to surgery which showed the bone had started to heal to some extent in the four weeks since the end of the Rugby World Cup, which is good news."

McCaw will be in plaster for two weeks and then a moonboot for a month. Around 10 to 12 weeks post-surgery he will be able to start running and then will gradually return to rugby training, Robinson added.

The openside flanker was troubled throughout this year by the screw inserted in his right foot during surgery on a stress fracture, and did not take a full part in training during the World Cup to avoid aggravating the injury.

Following the All Blacks' cliff-hanger 8-7 win over France in the final last month, the 30-year-old flanker had a scan on the foot and saw a specialist.

Todd Blackadder, the coach of McCaw's Crusaders side has resigned himself to starting the next Super Rugby season without his captain and his other star, flyhalf Dan Carter, who suffered a groin injury in the World Cup.

McCaw, who became the first All Black to play 100 Tests in the 37-17 World Cup pool victory over France, also missed the first two months of last season's Super 15 tournament after having the screw inserted in his foot.

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