Jerome Kaino facing surgery to put his All Blacks place in doubt

All Blacks loose forward Jerome Kaino is facing knee surgery that will take him out of action for six weeks, putting a question mark over his availability for the Lions series.

The Blues confirmed the injury as they named their team to play the Brumbies on Sunday in Canberra.

The injury will put Kaino in doubt for the Blues game against the touring British and Irish Lions on June 7 which is the second game of their tour.

It will make him borderline for the test series with the opening international on June 24.

The Blues have been cleared to play their All Blacks against the Lions.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is scheduled to name his test squad the day after the Blues play the Lions.

Kaino's physicality is seen as a big plus factor for the All Blacks quest to better what will surely be a strong Lions pack.

The 34-year-old Kaino wasn't involved in the 2005 test series sweep against the Lions. He came off the Auckland bench to play the Lions at Eden Park but didn't make the All Blacks that season, having made his debut the previous year against the British Barbarians in London.

The double World Cup winner has played 77 tests and spoken of the chance to be involved in a series against the Lions as a huge motivating factor for him.

The All Blacks don't lack quality alternatives in the likes of Elliot Dixon, LIam Squire and Liam Messam while the uncapped Brad Shields is in good form for the Hurricanes.

Kaino's immediate absence is a huge dent for the Blues has they look to get off the bottom of the tough New Zealand conference.

Coach Tana Umaga has had to change his back row accordingly.

Akira Ioane comes in at No 8 with Steven Luatua shifting to blindside flanker.

Umaga said while the loss of Kaino is a blow for the team, it presents an opportunity for gifted Ioane, who has played in all eight games this season mostly off the bench.

It is the only change in the pack from the last game against the Hurricanes before the bye.

Umaga has tweaked his backline as well with All Black George Moiala called in to start at centre alongside Sonny Bill Williams in a powerful midfield.

Rieko Ioane shifts out to the left wing with Melani Nanai dropping to the bench.

Taranaki and Maori All Black lock Leighton Price, called into the squad this week for the rest of the season as a replacement, will be pressed into immediate action on the bench, with Patrick Tuipulotu, Jimmy Tupou, and Josh Goodhue all ruled out with injury.

Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Piers Francis, Augustine Pulu, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons (c), Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Leighton Price, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Melani Nanai.

 

Photo: GETTY IMAGES (Rugged Blues loose forward Jerome Kaino has collected an untimely knee injury).