Quake on Canty team's mind

Rugby players are no different than nine-to-fivers and when the Canterbury players gather for work today all the chatter will be about Saturday morning's earthquake.

Just like the office workers, the players will be recalling their personal earthquake experiences before training at Rugby Park and Sonny Bill Williams has already revealed he was worried about rushing out into the chilly Christchurch air after he was woken in his apartment by his brother.

The good news for Canterbury coach Rob Penney is the only injuries his medical staff will have to assess today were a direct result of last Friday night's 28-9 win over Bay of Plenty and not the natural disaster.

"Not that we know of – most of the boys are like everyone else in that they will probably have a nervous couple of nights I am sure," Penney said.

"One of the main requirements of recovery is to get a good sleep, so they will all be affected. There will be an impact on that and obviously there will be concerns about other family members which will impact on your ability to do what you do every day."

The squad will be encouraged to discuss the disaster and management will be wary that some players, especially those with young children, do not allow it to affect their preparation ahead of next weekend's match against Northland in Whangarei.

"It has been a pretty surreal weekend hasn't it? Everyone is in a bit of a haze and not sure what they should be doing and I am sure our boys are no different," Penney added.

"We will certainly address it. It is like the elephant in the room – you just make sure everyone is as comfortable as they can be, given the circumstances so we can get on with our work."

Williams' 60 minutes as a replacement for second five-eighth Ryan Crotty could lead to him getting his first run in the starting side, with Crotty re-aggravating the foot injury that hampered him earlier in the season and centre Robbie Fruean straining an ankle.

Wing Tu Umaga-Marshall is also nursing an injured shoulder: "They are the sort of injuries that are potentially maybe one or two weeks, maximum," Penney said.

Rugby Park appears to have emerged unscathed.

"The old dinosaur is still standing. It is a bit messed up, but it is not too bad."

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