Umaga may be fit to face Boks

New Zealand vice-captain Tana Umaga may make a miraculous return from injury to face South Africa in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final showdown.

Umaga ruptured a posterior cruciate knee ligament in New Zealand's opening match against Italy. But against all odds, he is poised to resume full training on Tuesday.

All Blacks medical officer John Mayhew told www.sarugby.net: "Tana did field training last week, and we anticipate him doing full training tomorrow.

"Obviously we have to see how he gets through the training. But medically he's progressing very well.

"It is a serious injury, but if we were surprised (at his recovery) we wouldn't have kept him on. We were anticipating he had the potential to do this. But he's still got to make the final hurdle."