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By MARC HINTON - Stuff.co.nz
01/11/2009
The All Blacks had some worries as they boarded their flight to London today, with the suspensions of Tony Woodcock and Sitiveni Sivivatu and a calf injury to Dan Carter putting a serious spanner in the works ahead of the Welsh test.
With both loosehead prop Woodcock and wing Sivivatu definitely out for next Saturday's match at the Millennium Stadium, after receiving one-game suspensions following Saturday's 32-19 victory over the Wallabies, and a cloud over Carter after he picked up a knock to his calf, the three All Blacks coaches had plenty to think about on the long flight to Heathrow.
The sight of Carter looking in visible discomfort today as the All Blacks checked out of their hotel to head to the airport would not have helped matters. Especially given the consummate display the superstar pivot had put on night as he worked back towards his imperious best.
Carter hauled in 22 points on a faultless night with the boot, was a key figure in the All Blacks' second-half fightback with his strong territorial game and ran at the line more than he has since his return to the test scene.
Both Woodcock and Sivivatu were cited for incidents in the test, which meant a late night for assistant coach, and former policeman, Steve Hansen, who accompanied his errant pair to a hearing that went on into the early hours of the Tokyo morning.
Sivivatu was pinged for his dangerous mid-air tackle on Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper for which he was sinbinned, and Woodcock was found to have struck George Smith with his elbow in the final minute of the contest.
Judicial officer Peter Hobbs, of Wellington, found that both actions warranted a one-match suspension, which means the All Blacks have at least two changes to make this week...........
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/a...cock-suspended