All Blacks forced to juggle the front row

Auckland loosehead prop Saimone Taumoepeau replaces Greg Somerville. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Prop Greg Somerville became the latest member yesterday of a select but unfashionable All Blacks list when he failed to pass a fitness test for the end-of-year tour.

The selectors and medical staff put Somerville through some training and scanned his damaged right calf before making their decision.

Somerville's misfortune deprived him of his 50th cap on the All Blacks' bid for the Grand Slam with their tests against Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland.

"We were intending to play Greg against Ireland so he had some time to come right, but it was the medical opinion that he might struggle to do that and we can't take that risk," said coach Graham Henry.

"In our minds we have had to change the front row components and who is going to play in the first test [against Wales] and who is likely to play in the second [against Ireland]."

Somerville's setback was a windfall for Auckland loosehead prop Saimone Taumoepeau, who had been on standby and training with the All Black squad this week.

Earlier in the week inside back Luke McAlister was ruled out of the tour because he needed surgery to repair some knee damage. He was replaced by Nick Evans.

The selection and subsequent withdrawal of McAlister and Somerville leaves them at the head of an unwelcome All Black lineup.

Similar casualties were Brad Thorn and Justin Marshall in 2001, Craig Dowd and Carl Hoeft in 2000, Ofisa Tonu'u in 1995 and Mike Brewer in 1991.

Evans was a straight five-eighths swap for the injured McAlister but there was no ready replacement for Somerville who could prop on both sides of the scrum. Taumoepeau is a specialist loosehead.

Henry mentioned at the team announcement that Somerville, Neemia Tialata and Clarke Dermody were the three props in the country capable of dealing with either side of the scrum.

Tialata made the 35-strong touring squad but there was obviously a feeling that Dermody was not yet ready for this tour.

Scrum coach Mike Cron felt Taumoepeau, who made his test debut against Italy on last year's tour to Europe, was the better replacement for this trip. He had really come on to his scrummaging in the NPC playoffs and had also shown improved athleticism.

To guard against injury and any other problems, tighthead props Carl Hayman and John Afoa were already receiving tuition from Cron in case they need to swap sides during a game.

Henry said selections for the first two tour tests were almost complete, but there would be some tinkering and finetuning last night as the team began their long flight to the UK.

"They are not quite in the bag but certainly we have been training that way, we have been training with a group to play against Wales and a group likely to play against Ireland, so we are a fair way down the track on it," said Henry.

The coach would not reveal which of the opening tests captain Tana Umaga would start in, but it seems he will lead the side against Wales, possibly from second five-eighths. It seems the selectors will choose a stronger side to challenge the Six Nations champions Wales before others get a chance against Ireland, with the strongest combination then picked to play England.