Southland skipper set to anchor All Black scrum

Clarke Dermody can play on both sides of the scrum. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Even though 39 players will be unveiled in Sunday's initial All Black selection, there will be few fresh choices. There could be a recall for some like Troy Flavell, or returns for others such as Greg Somerville and Luke McAlister, who missed the Grand Slam tour because of injury.

One new face though might be loosehead prop Clarke Dermody. He lost out to Saimone Taumoepeau when a replacement was needed for the injured Somerville in the squad used on last year's trip to Britain.

But that decision could be reversed this year as the selectors work through all the options before Sunday's announcement of the All Black, Junior All Black and NZ Maori squads.

Coach Graham Henry has already voiced his intention to exclude most of the Crusaders and Hurricanes Super 14 finalists from the group to prepare for the opening tests against Ireland.

That would eliminate Somerville and Neemia Tialata from consideration, props who are developing their craft to cover both sides of the scrum.

Test loosehead Tony Woodcock is recovering from a calf muscle tear and is unlikely to be risked for the opening June 10 test in Hamilton. That pushes Taumoepeau, Dermody and Simms Davidson into greater focus.

The 26-year-old Dermody has been part of an impressive Highlanders front row with Anton Oliver and Carl Hayman while Taumoepeau was restricted to two starts for the Blues.

Dermody can swap sides but he is primarily a loosehead prop where his expertise allowed him to be picked for the NZ under-21 test team ahead of Woodcock when they were both members of that 2002 squad.

"Clarke is our provincial captain, he is very organised, very sound in his technique, very strong and one of the best defenders in the side," Southland co-coach David Henderson said yesterday.

"He has set himself some goals and he is an achiever."

Dermody took over the Highlanders vacancy left by Carl Hoeft and with the Hurricanes' John Schwalger is a loosehead prop on the rise.

Meanwhile Henry will meet provincial officials in Wellington today to detail his plans to reduce the workload of All Black players during next year's Super 14. It is understood his strategies surround how best to prepare All Blacks for the World Cup season.

Henry has decided large squads and selection rotations are the best methods to have players at peak for the 2007 World Cup and it is understood he wants to reduce the workloads for 22 senior players in next year's Super 14.

Those ideas would find favour in South Africa, where top sports scientist Tim Noakes has warned administrators many Springboks need two months rest this year otherwise the side will falter at the next World Cup in France.

It is a message which has also been reinforced by Springbok coach Jake White, who saw three more players, Bakkies Botha, Bryan Habana and Pedrie Wannenberg injured in the Super 14 semifinal loss to the Crusaders.

"Some of our top players have been playing rugby continuously for nearly three years. No player's body can take so much punishment week in and week out," said Noakes.

White intends petitioning SA rugby officials this week to allow some players a lengthy standdown period.

Long-term injured All Black prospects are Conrad Smith, James Ryan, Angus Macdonald, Sione Lauaki, Nick Evans, Andrew Ellis and Woodcock.