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Andrew Hore of the Hurricanes - Source: Photosport -
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Andrew Hore's left arm could cause a lingering headache for All Black selectors after the hooker appeared to suffer a serious injury during the Hurricanes season-ending Super 14 rugby defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney last night.
The Hurricanes inspirational leader left the field during the 32-16 final round loss at the Sydney Football Station after copping a blow in the elbow region in the 23rd minute.
Hore took heavy contact at a breakdown and reeled away in pain before leaving the field.
Centre Conrad Smith's initial assessment was grim: "It must be pretty serious, he wouldn't go off if it was just a niggle."
Hore was to undergo further assessment today before the team returned to Wellington.
His demise when the Waratahs were in full flight during a one-sided first half left understudy Dane Coles to fill the void on a preparation of club rugby and brief cameos from the bench.
Smith said Hore's absence was an obvious setback.
"He's been brilliant all year. When we've been down he's the one to talk, he's the voice, he's been the leader for us all year. It was tough to lose him," his All Black teammate said.
It was a rough night for the front rowers. In the first leg of the trans-Tasman double header in Christchurch, Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore fractured his jaw when accidentally clashing heads with Crusaders prop Owen Franks.
The blow is destined to rule out Moore from the Wallabies early-season tests against Fiji, England and Ireland next month.
