All Blacks: McAlister 'ready to start' in second test

Luke McAlister runs a passing drill with pupils at St Mark's Church school in Wellington. Photo / Getty Images

Returning All Black Luke McAlister says he is unsure what the All Blacks coaching panel has in store for him this week but he is ready to start Saturday's second test against France in Wellington if asked to.

However, the more likely scenario for McAlister, who is back in top line rugby after knee surgery, is a place on the reserves bench particularly if first-choice centre Conrad Smith recovers from a strained hamstring.

"I've been training over the three months, it's not like I've been fully out of the game," McAlister said.

"I have not spoken to the coaches or they to me ... but I'm ready to start a game if I'm asked to, yeah."

McAlister, rushed back into the All Blacks due to a spate of injuries, had played the week before for the Barbarians against Australia -- just his first big game after three months of rehabilitation.

The rustiness was clear to see when he gifted France the match-winning try in Dunedin last Saturday night.

The All Blacks were trailing and pressing hard into French territory when McAlister saw his attempted pass intercepted by French fullback Maxime Medard, who raced 60m for a try which put the match out of reach of the All Blacks who eventually lost 22-27.

"Obviously I made a bad decision by giving a pass away to let him run 60m which is not easy to take particularly coming into the side from a bit of a break.

"But you got to move on, take it on the chin, and get on with it. With the support of the boys you move on pretty quickly."

The All Blacks had not under-estimated the French but on the night their opponents had brought a more physical approach to the game, he added.

Whether or not the All Blacks will have Conrad Smith's steadying midfield influence for Saturday's second test with France depends on how his left hamstring holds up in training over the next couple of days.

The injured centre was a forlorn spectator last Saturday as the All Blacks went down 22-27 at Carisbrook, a repeat of the role he had last time New Zealand met France in the ill-fated 2007 World Cup quarterfinal.

Smith was hopeful of adding to his 24 test caps on Saturday, but said he would have to see how he pulled up after training today and tomorrow, when the All Blacks' second test side are scheduled to be named.

"It feels pretty good, but until you give it a proper test, it's hard to know."

Smith, whose international career since 2006 has been hampered by injury, said it had been a couple of years since the hamstring had acted up.

"It sprung out of nowhere. I was told they're a bit like earthquakes and can pop up at any time for no reason.

"I'd had a good two weeks off and still trained pretty well, so it wasn't as if I hadn't done anything.

"I was about an hour into the training and I felt it pull. It's the most common injury in all sports, it's just one of those things.

"It makes it worse because the team is hurting," he added. "We're pretty inexperienced at the moment and we're playing a very experienced, quality French side that they've sent down here.

"These are tough test matches and you want to get out there and help the boys.

"Thankfully, if there's any goodness it's that I get to go through it with (lock) Ali Williams because he's going through the same thing, so you can draw a bit of strength from each other, but that doesn't make it a whole lot easier."

With Richard Kahui also sidelined by injury, a makeshift All Blacks midfield failed to find the key to unlock tight French marking.

Utility back Isaia Toeava was a jittery figure at centre while second five Ma'a Nonu was well below his best.

However, Smith felt the All Blacks would right the ship this week.

"It's a simple game and doesn't take much to turn these things around."

Meanwhile, France have no injury concerns as only nuggety halfback Julien Dupuy was on their casualty list announced today, having had stitches put in for a scalp wound from Saturday's match.

The New Zealand TAB, believing the All Blacks capable of bouncing back, have installed them as $1.18 favoutrites to win the second test with France paying $4.50.

- NZPA