All Blacks: McAlister to prove his worth with juniors

Luke McAlister will make his return to New Zealand rugby in the Junior All Blacks squad named today to contest the Pacific Nations Cup starting next month.

World class playmaker McAlister, who recently ended an 18-month stint with English club Sale, is likely to return to the All Blacks for the Tri-Nations series but the New Zealand Rugby Union board has deemed he must first prove his worth for what is effectively the New Zealand B team.

He will probably play first five-eighth in most of the matches against Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Japan although Crusaders playmaker Colin Slade has also been named in the 26-man squad selected by co-coaches Colin Cooper and Ian Foster.

"We have got a talented squad of established international players plus up and coming players and Ian Foster and I are excited about the campaign ahead," Cooper said.

"The Junior All Blacks have a proud unbeaten record in the Pacific Nations Cup and this year's team will be keen to maintain that record."

Hurricanes and Wellington prop John Schwalger and Chiefs and Taranaki lock Craig Clarke haven't been named in the squad but will assemble with the Junior All Blacks as respective cover for Owen Franks and Bryn Evans, who are assembling with the All Blacks.

One feature of the squad is the inclusion of two sets of brothers - Owen Franks and older brother Ben of the Crusaders and Jacob Ellison and older brother Tamati of the Hurricanes.

The Pacific Nations Cup tournament will be played in Samoa and Fiji from June 12 to July 3.

Junior All Blacks
Backs: Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau), Rene Ranger (Northland), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Robert Fruean (Wellington), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Ryan Crotty (Canterbury), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Colin Slade (Canterbury), Alby Mathewson (Wellington), Chris Smylie (North Harbour)

Forwards: Sione Lauaki (Waikato), George Whitelock (Canterbury), Karl Lowe (Wellington), Victor Vito (Wellington), Bryn Evans (Hawke's Bay), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Tasman), Jacob Ellison (Wellington), Jamie Mackintosh (Southland), Aled de Malmanche (Waikato), Hikawera Elliot (Hawke's Bay)

- NZPA