Lowe and Hurricanes suffer blow

Hurricanes back row Karl Lowe will sit out the early rounds of the 2012 Investec Super Rugby season, after he underwent surgery on the same troublesome knee that kept him out of action for most of last year.

Lowe would have likely featured in Whangarei in the Hurricanes 36-22 loss to the Blues in both team’s first pre-season match, but was a late omission to the 29-man squad that coach Mark Hammett named for the first 2012 hit out.

The Hawke’s Bay flanker is booked to have surgery on Tuesday.

He reinjured the knee during a conditioning session, and it is believed that the issue is minor, and will involve clearing of damaged cartilage from his knee.

Hammett said to Fairfax Media the injury wasn’t as bad as initially feared.

"It's a minor setback really, but it's a pain for him,” he said.

“It's just a cartilage cleanup and we are hoping he will be back in three to four weeks, in time for the season.”

Jack Lam played at openside against the Blues, with Brad Shield at blindside while World Cup winning All Black Victor Vito played at number eight.

All Blacks centre and Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith is still to link up with the team, while Samoan international Tusi Pisi and midfielder Tim Bateman are still to wrap up their sojourns in Japan.

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