Fiji coach rates the 'big fella'

Derren Witcombe

Derren Witcombe's promotion to the All Black test side yesterday came with an extra nod of approval from Fiji coach Wayne Pivac who helped refresh the hooker's career.

Pivac is preparing Fiji for Friday's game against Graham Henry's All Blacks, but in 2003 the pair coached Auckland to another NPC title with strong input from new recruit Witcombe.

The 26-year-old had graduated to the Super 12 from Northland, but thought his prospects were stalling if he stayed with that union. The Auckland coaches saw enough potential in Witcombe to make the transfer happen.

Witcombe joined lock James Ryan and left-wing Sitiveni Sivivatu as new caps to start Friday's test, while fullback Soseni Anesi and prop Campbell Johnstone are new faces in the reserves.

Only utility back Ma'a Nonu was ruled out of selection because of a shoulder injury.

Fiji have retained the same side who took the NZ Maori side to the brink of defeat in Suva last week before the visitors won 29-27.

"It looks to me like the All Blacks will have a powerful scrum," Pivac said. "I think Derren is a very strong player who has had limited opportunities behind Keven Mealamu at the Blues and Auckland.

"If anything, though, when he has been used he has added to the scrum, he is an ex-prop who is a tough scrummager, a good thrower to the lineout and is very mobile for a big fella. He clears rucks and is aggressive in his work."

It was a quality rap from Pivac and another insight into reasons the All Black panel have picked Witcombe for this match ahead of Mealamu or Andrew Hore.

With the burly Anton Oliver in a race to be fit for the Lions series and Corey Flynn on Maori duty, the All Black selectors had a look around and identified Witcombe as a serious test contender.

"We are comfortable with Keven and his role. With Derren we need to know more about him and we want to test him at the highest level," forwards coach Steve Hansen said. "We want to see if he can continue his trial form."

Witcombe is a sizeable 1.85m and 115kg, the sort of front-row beef the All Blacks may need to counter Lions hooker Steve Thompson at 1.88m and 115kg, and props Andy Sheridan at 1.96m and 119kg and Julian White at 1.85m and 114kg.

For this first All Black inquisition of the season, Byron Kelleher has been preferred ahead of Justin Marshall at halfback. That decision, Henry said, was a "horses for courses" choice.

If things go well for the All Blacks, if they are able to control the game early in the second half, there is the suspicion they will empty their bench to try combinations.

The selectors will also have factored in those players they hope will survive the NZ Maori-Lions match on Saturday to be included in the 26-man test squad which will be announced on Sunday.

In midfield they are able to test the Aaron Mauger-Tana Umaga mix, while Ryan gets his chance, as the selectors know all they need to about Chris Jack's locking prowess.

In the wake of some media-driven anguish, Henry gave the Lions' methods at the breakdown a gentle taunt.

"We don't allow the second player to kill the ball as much as it happens in England. We have our guys standing on their feet more often and I guess that is going to require a little bit of feel for that on this tour," he said.

"I assume that with the tackler and the tackled player on the ground, the third player has to be on his feet. That is the law and I assume that is how they will referee the game."

It was essential there was global clarification about rugby's rules.

Meanwhile, Pivac said any All Black combination would be powerful, the selectors would have their reasons for their decisions. But it would always be the No 1 one side in the world against No 9.

"I have picked my strongest side for the Maori match and this is our biggest test of the year, this is their biggest hit-out."

Fiji, Henry said, would present the usual problems with their lineout jumpers, pace throughout the backs and Nicky Little's direction from first five-eighths.

* About 8000 tickets had been pre-sold for Friday's test against Fiji at North Harbour Stadium and Coom considered a 25,000 sellout a real possibility. "There has been a lot of publicity about the Lions, but Fiji were also great last week and this is the only chance to see the All Blacks before the Lions series."