All Black Sam Cane never flinches so it should not surprise his grimace as he left the field in Pretoria has revealed itself to be a break in his neck.
After a collision with Springboks loose forward Francois Louw in the 35th minute of the All Blacks' 32-30 comeback victory on Sunday morning (NZ time), Cane stayed down and then looked in obvious pain.
The loose forward underwent surgery overnight to repair a fracture on the lower right side of his neck and will remain in South Africa for one week to recover.
While expected to recover, Cane will be out for at least three months and, therefore, misses the northern tour which opens with the third Bledisloe in Yokohama in three weeks.
"First he's got to get through the operation," Paige told media in South Africa. "We have every confidence he'll do well with that and then like any fracture it takes a couple of weeks and months. It will probably take about three months for the bone to get strong but we'll just take it step by step.
Like All Blacks captain Kieran Read following his spinal surgery late last year, Cane's return to play will be a cautious affair.
"Many sportsmen have had this injury and people in other walks of life and they usually make a good recovery. It's one level of the neck.
"Sam's in good spirits he's obviously sore in the middle of the night as you are the night after a fracture but he's being well looked after and is getting lots of support and texts and phone calls."
Given concern around a break in the neck, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen attempted to downplay fears.
"Once you remove the drama of it being a neck injury you've just got to look at it and treat it like any fracture," Hansen said.
"It's obviously really disappointing for Sam and his family but the pleasing news is he's being given great medical care from the time of the injury through the whole process and best of all he's going to get a full recovery and play again."
Cane's injury weakens the All Blacks loose forward stocks but the impressive form of Ardie Savea should see him step straight into the No 7 jersey.
With Matt Todd playing under Robbie Deans' Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan, Blues and Auckland prospect Blake Gibson probably heads the list of contenders to replace Cane on the northern tour.
Highlanders opensides Dillon Hunt, a mid-week tourist last year, and James Lentjes, who just made his return for Otago, are other options.
"We'll have to get another one. Who that is yet we're working through the process. We've got to get one to replace Sam whether we take three on the tour that is another question."
Elsewhere news is much more promising on the injured brigade with Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick, Liam Squire, Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala all now expected to head north.