Waikato 's former All Black five-eighth Stephen Donald, will be out of rugby for at least four months after having surgery today to repair a torn chest muscle.
Donald was injured in a tackle playing for his club University in Hamilton on Saturday.
The next day the All Black selectors announced he'd been discarded, reportedly having told him late last week that he wasn't wanted.
So it looks as if Donald's chances of adding his tally of 19 tests at the end of the season will depend on injuries to other players.
Aaron Cruden has been preferred as first-five Dan Carter's backup, and Benson Stanley as replacement for the injured second-five Ma'a Nonu.