Jones' career under threat

The All Blacks' legendary flanker, Michael Jones, underwent surgery yesterday after suffering a severe knee injury during the Test against Fiji on Saturday, which New Zealand won 71-5.

The injury meant Jones, a veteran of 51 Tests, was unlikely to play again this season - and the match may have been the last of his 10-year career.

Jones, 32, is no stranger to injury, having damaged the same knee against Argentina in 1989, after which doctors doubted whether he would ever walk properly again.

Another absentee for the first test against Argentina in Wellington on Saturday is the stand-off Andrew Mehrtens, who injured a hamstring. Otago's Taine Randell will move to blindside flanker, while Auckland's Carlos Spencer will make his debut at Athletic Park in place of Mehrtens.