Pack your bags, Gear

I DON'T often delve into the murky world of sports comment.

Stick to your onions, they say.

Although I do have a minor sporting pedigree.

I played first-five for the Kamo High School First XV during one of

the team's worst seasons on record, and I also toyed with athletics

as a youngster.

Oh yes,  I came second in the senior 100m at Kamo High one year.

All of which qualifies me to write with some authority on the All Black

World Cup rugby squad announced yesterday.

As a former winger (Kamo Ds, 1990-something) my heart goes out to

specialist wings Hosea Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu. One-on-one, I'd back

both over Zack Guildford (who made it) every time.

Injury has put Gear out of a few games this year, and seems to have halted the momentum he

enjoyed at the end of last season. Looking at the squad, it seems that the selectors are not worried

about specialists in their back three. Converted wingers and fullbacks abound, starting with

Mils Muliaina _ a converted winger.

Rugby is no longer a game where the players on the flanks are

expected to be the quickest on the field. Neither is league, as the Warriors

recent standout, Shaun Johnson, has demonstrated.

What surprises me though, is that in rejecting a specialist such as

Gear, the selectors have retained a one-trick pony such as Sonny Bill

Williams.

It seems there is less depth at second-five, than wing/fullback. In fact,

spot quiz, name the third best second-five in the country. Not easy, is it?

Other talking points within the squad are Colin Slade _ who scraped

in ahead of the in-form Aaron Cruden and the late inclusion of Anthony

Boric, who proved he had overcome injury to make it. Could he, though,

become the Andy Dalton of the 2011 squad?

The squad was announced live on television after the players had been

told who was in and out. A far cry from the corner bar of Whangarei's

Grand Hotel in 1987 when it was announced live.

Just one final thing to say about the 2011 squad, who will bid to win the

Cup in their home country  _ good luck.