Mauger still in doubt for test

Aaron MAuger

Midfielder Aaron Mauger remains an uncertain part of All Black plans to ramp up their attacking muscle in tomorrow's last hitout with the Wallabies.

Mauger was supposed to mentor youngster Isaia Toeava through the toughest test of his brief career but damaged his groin in a midweek practice session.

He trained again last night, lightly, but there was no verdict on whether he would make his 37th test appearance tomorrow at Eden Park. Mauger will undergo a fitness test today.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said there was no subterfuge involved with Mauger's injury. He could run in a straight line and the selectors were hopeful he would be cleared. If not, either Sam Tuitupou or Luke McAlister would be named as a replacement.

Tuitupou played alongside Toeava in the test against Argentina this year and the pair linked up in midfield for Auckland last week against Taranaki.

If Mauger failed a fitness trial, Smith said, there was no reason to believe his absence would impact on Toeava. The whole idea of the All Blacks' rotation policy was to develop an extended seamless squad.

"There is a lot more trust today than there would have been a year ago in this area," Smith added.

Meanwhile he was looking for the All Blacks to shed some of the caution which had afflicted their approach this season.

In six tests this year they have scored 16 tries while last year they scored 54 tries in 12 tests. That tally was boosted by the 15 tries scored against Fiji but they did collect 16 tries in four Grand Slam tests.

"I think we have been playing with a lot of character, a lot of spirit to win games," Smith said.

"This team as you've seen has a lot of guts and has been able to dig deep and win games."