Broken leg 10 weeks ago ... now stepping out for the All Blacks

Ten weeks after breaking his right leg, New Zealand winger Waisake Naholo will make just his second test appearance – in a Rugby World Cup game against Georgia on Friday.

Seeking a third straight win in Pool C, the All Blacks selected a largely full-strength team that included recalls for flanker Richie McCaw as captain and fly-half Dan Carter.

There were 11 changes from the 58-14 win over Namibia last week, but only four to the side which beat Argentina 26-16 first up.

Naholo’s return is the headline, though. He sustained a hairline fracture to his fibula 50 minutes into his debut for New Zealand on July 17 against Argentina in the Rugby Championship. Treatment for the fracture included a trip to Fiji for traditional healing from his uncle, including putting leaves on the leg.

“My uncle does a little bit of massage there,” Naholo said. “He placed some of the leaves we use back in Fiji. Then I came back to New Zealand and the doctors we use with the All Blacks carried it on there.”

But dismissing talk of a “miracle cure”, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said the timing of Naholo’s comeback was expected.

“He’s not a witch doctor, not a doctor, all he knows is his leg is right,” Hansen said. “We know his leg is right because he’s had it X-rayed. It’s healed and we decided to pick him. As long as his leg was right, he was going to be here.

“Watching him train this week has been pleasurable.”

Naholo was the top try-scorer in Super Rugby this season with the champion Highlanders, and the All Blacks rate him so highly that he was selected even though he was going to miss the first two weeks of the tournament. Julian Savea is on the other wing, with Nehe Milner-Skudder dropping out.