Question mark over Cruden

Aaron Cruden tries to escape a tackle from Ross Moriarty last night. Photo: Getty Images
Aaron Cruden tries to escape a tackle from Ross Moriarty last night. Photo: Getty Images

All Black Aaron Cruden has been cleared of a serious neck injury after last night's clash with Wales - but it's too early to tell if he'll be fit for the third test in Dunedin, coach Steven Hansen says.

The first five-eighth was carried off in the first half of New Zealand's 36-22 victory after Wales lock Luke Charteris rolled over the top of him during a tackle, landing on top of his neck and head.

Players celebrate Beauden Barrett's try. Photo: Getty Images
Players celebrate Beauden Barrett's try. Photo: Getty Images

Hansen said after the game that Cruden had heard "a crack" when the tackle happened. He was taken to hospital for checks, but returned to the team hotel late last night.

"Aaron was given the all clear and came back to the hotel for tea," Hansen told reporters today. "He's a little bit stiff and sore in the neck.

"We will monitor him for the next few days and see if he'll be right to play next weekend but the hospital was very happy with it."

Cruden's replacement, Beauden Barrett, orchestrated a superb second half performance by the All Blacks as they took the score from 10-10 at halftime to 36-10 with 10 minutes remaining, before two late Wales tries made the score more respectable.

Hansen added that Barrett's performance had probably given him the advantage to start the test if Cruden was unfit, rather than giving the third flyhalf in the squad, Lima Sopoaga, an opportunity to start on his home ground in Dunedin next Saturday.

"The bloke who came on last night did a pretty good job," Hansen said. "Beauden probably deserves to get the opportunity.

"We have a pretty good backup in Lima coming off the bench (though) we could go the other way and put Lima into start."

Barrett's 38-match test career has been primarily spent coming off the bench in the second half to exploit a tiring defence with his electric pace at flyhalf or fullback.

Hansen said the versatility of Barrett, who would not travel to Dunedin with the rest of the squad after coming down with the flu overnight and would instead arrive on Monday, still enabled him to pick Sopoaga in a match-day squad.

The 25-year-old is considered more of a specialist flyhalf, though having both him and Barrett in the final 23 would not be an issue.

"Beauden could drop back to fullback if we need him to," Hansen said. "We still have that utility value there with Beauden on the park."

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