All Blacks: Henry lays down challenge to axed Tialata

Dumped All Blacks prop Neemia Tialata needs to find some from in the Air NZ Cup. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - All Blacks coach Graham Henry has challenged prop Neemia Tialata to recapture his form in the Air NZ Cup after he was axed for Saturday's test against the Wallabies.

Of those fit for selection, Tialata was the notable omission from the 26-man squad who have their first training session in Sydney today for the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup test at ANZ Stadium.

It completed a gradual slide for the Wellington strongman who started four of six tests this year at tighthead, before suffering a sprained knee in the 19-28 defeat to the Springboks in Bloemfontein.

Youngster Owen Franks seized his chance in his run-on debut in the 19-31 defeat in Durban while Tialata recovered, but he was available for selection this week after playing a full game for Wellington B on Saturday.

Said Henry: "He hadn't played for a while; he's a big man and needs to be playing. He's run out of a bit of game fitness really, that's the major reason (for his omission). " But the coach said Tialata, a 36-test All Black, would have to demand re-inclusion for the latter stages of the Tri-Nations.

"We'll have to wait and see when he plays, how he plays. He's done the job before and there's no reason he can't do the job again, he just hasn't played a lot of football."

The selectors preferred Wyatt Crockett as the fourth prop in the squad, behind Durban starters Franks and Tony Woodcock, and benchman John Afoa.

Backup halfback Piri Weepu was the only player from last week's training camp to be ruled out after he rolled his ankle.

Henry said Weepu could have played this week, but it would have been "a big ask" and they didn't want to risk him reinjuring the ankle.

It reduced the halfback selection puzzle to just two contenders, Jimmy Cowan and Brendon Leonard.

The All Blacks arrived in Sydney last night with all the focus on star pivot Daniel Carter who played strongly in Canterbury's 43-16 win over Waikato and is poised for his first test of 2009 after an achilles tendon injury layoff.

While the All Blacks gain a key player, the Wallabies lose their skipper with Stirling Mortlock (knee) ruled out.

Henry insisted the Wallabies would lift without him, while captain Richie McCaw said Mortlock's absence wouldn't be a major factor.

"Perhaps (they'll miss him) a little bit, but last year over here he wasn't playing and we came second. You don't get excited just because one guy is missing," McCaw said.

McCaw raised the stakes for Saturday's test, saying the Tri-Nations hopes of the losing side would be "all but gone" after their defeats in South Africa. An All Blacks victory would also retain them the Bledisloe Cup for another year with two tests to spare.

Both sides were scheduled to train in Sydney today, with the starting lineups to be named tomorrow.

- NZPA