Umaga targets rapid All Black comeback
Umaga suffered the injury to his left leg just over a fortnight ago in the All Blacks' opening victory against Italy and his future in the tournament hung in the balance.
Coach John Mitchell feared the worst and Norm Maxwell was flown over to Australia as cover, but he spent the entire time on standby as Umaga embarked on a swift, and so far successful, recovery.
The 30-year-old was back doing light exercise within four days and now, two weeks on, he is has been running, putting full weight on the knee and giving it "quite a serious hit out" in training.
Umaga, a key member of the All Blacks squad, spent 45 minutes yesterday working on agility drills and direction changes.
"I've come through feeling good at the moment and I can put all my weight on the knee and I'm not a small guy," Umaga said after training.
"I'm very happy where I'm at now, and hopefully it's just going to get better.
"I've been pretty determined and have been working hard along with the medical staff. I'm pretty happy where I am."
In Umaga's first public appearance after the injury he vowed to take himself home if, at any point, he felt like excess baggage.
But he yesterday thanked the rest of the All Blacks squad for their support as he attempts to be back in time for a potential quarter-final tie against South Africa in their adopted home town of Melbourne.
"It has been very frustrating," he said.
"It's never great being injured, but in saying that you don't want to project that frustration through the team.
"I've been happy about what I've been doing and I've been positive about it.
"The support from the guys has been great and it's really lifted my enthusiasm to get back out there and help them."
But in Umaga's absence Ma'a Nonu and then Leon MacDonald have had the chance in his outside centre position, and so his return to the side could depend on more than just fitness.
MacDonald also took on the kicking duties against Tonga while Umaga has already claimed Nonu is on the rise to becoming a world star.
"I can only do what I can do and then it comes down to the coaches seeing how I fit in," he said.
"I thought Leon played great. He was decisive in his running and he's a strong defender anyway and they're probably the main things you need as a centre. He also set up his outsides and he kicked great.
"It was yet another opportunity taken by a player in this team. That's the thing about this team if you give guys an opportunity they'll take it."
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