News
All Blacks recall for Eaton and Gear
July 04 2009
The selection of 2008 All Blacks lock Jason Eaton and winger Hosea Gear, and the return of veterans Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo and Sitiveni Sivivatu, are the key features of the 30-strong New Zealand squad for the Tri-Nations.
All Blacks Coach Graham Henry, and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, named the squad on Friday.
The squad is made up of 17 forwards and 13 backs with the forwards bolstered by the return of All Blacks captain McCaw who has recovered from his pre-June Series knee injury, while So'oialo returns after his recovery and rehabilitation.
In the backs, Sivivatu returns after recovering from a dislocated shoulder, which ruled him out of the June Series.
It will be a quick turnaround for 26-year-old Hurricanes and Taranaki lock Eaton and 25-year-old Hurricanes and Wellington winger Gear, who last played for the All Blacks on the 2008 Grand Slam tour, with the pair returning to New Zealand yesterday after helping the Junior All Blacks to victory in the recent IRB Pacific Nations Cup in the Pacific Islands.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks injury woes continue, with Isaia Toeava likely to miss the first three Tests of the TriNations, with a scan late this week confirming that he has a stress fracture in his left foot; while Stephen Donald is also recovering from his hamstring strain.
The All Blacks squad will assemble in Wellington for a two-day camp next week (Wednesday and Thursday) and four players will assemble with the squad for the camp as cover - Hurricanes and Wellington utility back Tamati Ellison, Crusaders and Canterbury first five-eighths Stephen Brett and 2008 All Blacks Ben Franks and Anthony Tuitavake, who were all members of the victorious Junior All Blacks squad.
Players not considered for selection due to injury include lock Ali Williams (Achilles), wing Rudi Wulf (shoulder), flanker Adam Thomson (hand), centre Richard Kahui (shoulder), lock Anthony Boric (toe), halfback Andy Ellis (ribs), hooker Corey Flynn (forearm), flanker Scott Waldrom (back) and first-five eighths Daniel Carter (Achilles).
All Blacks coach Henry said the team were under no illusions how challenging this year's TriNations would be. "It's going to be a huge contest right from the first Test.
But this group of players has the resolve and the character to meet that challenge head on so we are expecting it to be another massive competition between the three top-ranked countries in world rugby," he said.
The All Blacks open the TriNations on July 18 when they take on the Wallabies in Auckland, in the first Bledisloe Cup clash. They then head to South Africa for two Tests against the Springboks in Bloemfontein (July 25) and Durban (August 1).
They play the Wallabies in Sydney on August 22 and finish the competition with two home Tests - against the Boks in Hamilton on September 12 and the Wallabies in Wellington on September 19. The All Blacks will assemble in Auckland on July 12 ahead of the Auckland Bledisloe Cup Test.
All Blacks Tri-Nations squad:
Forwards: Aled de Malmanche, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Jason Eaton, Bryn Evans, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Tanerau Latimer, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Rodney So'oialo.
Backs: Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Luke McAlister, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Hosea Gear, Josevata Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina.