Now it's lucky Luke

Luke McAlister

This time Luke McAlister was the beneficiary of another's misfortune, being named yesterday for his test debut as All Black first five-eighths.

Fourth choice maybe, after injuries eliminated Daniel Carter, Aaron Mauger and Leon MacDonald, but still an All Black after a hamstring injury prevented him from playing on the tour to Europe last year.

MacDonald's exit yesterday with a groin strain compounded the All Black woes, with flanker Richie McCaw unable to participate tomorrow in the third test at Eden Park because of a hamstring strain.

The latest losses have dug into All Black resources, with Rodney So'oialo moving to the openside flank, Sione Lauaki starting at No 8 and McAlister, 22, responsible for running the backline and kicking goals.

Nick Evans and Marty Holah were called into the reserves.

There was a late mention about MacDonald's injury niggle and Evans' arrival as cover, but there was no suggestion of anything awry with McCaw. He suffered a heavy knock on his head in the second test and a wound which required stitching, but yesterday he had a tight hamstring.

After the selectors decided they would use So'oialo rather than Holah in the original squad as cover for McCaw, it did not surprise they switched So'oialo to openside tomorrow. McAlister has not played much at first five-eighths this year.

He was used at centre then second five-eighths with the Blues, and filled a midfield role for the NZ Maori against Fiji and the Lions, and for the Junior All Blacks.

"First-five's a huge position, it's the driver of the car," he said. "To fill Dan Carter's boots will be tough, but hopefully I can do that."

McAlister should have made his test debut last year against Italy when all the reserves got on the field. Originally he was to be on the bench, but a hamstring he strained before the side left failed to recover.

It was an international in which Conrad Smith, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Bates and Saimone Taumoepeau made their debuts.

Coach Graham Henry said regular fullback MacDonald's injury left him "nowhere near ready to play" his first test at first five-eighths.

"We had discussions with Luke about the game plan we're putting into place, how to navigate the ship as best we can," Henry said.

"He's going to have a lot of support. Tana Umaga's right on his shoulder, with Byron Kelleher inside. It won't be an issue.

"The game plan's very simple anyway, we don't need to change."

McAlister has forced his way in ahead of Evans and Stephen Donald, who were the first five-eighths on the Junior All Blacks tour of Australia.

Henry said on the day of the original team announcement that Evans had been considered as five-eighths instead of MacDonald.

"We don't think he is quite there yet, he has still got some challenges in his game," Henry added.

Backline coach Wayne Smith tried to soften that viewpoint, but it was clear with McAlister's elevation that there is still a way for Evans to go to become a deputy test first five-eighths.

The test series against the Lions is already won, but McAlister said there will be no reduction in the pressure on him or his colleagues.

"It's still a huge game, I don't want to lose."