The All Black trial with missing ABs

As many as 19 All Blacks and more players on the fringe of international selection could be missing from the trial match in Napier on June 3.

The NZRU's release of top players for the NZ Maori game against the Lions and the All Black selectors' excusing of Super 12 finalists from the trial have been known for some time. But only now that potential Super 12 finalists are becoming clearer can the effect be seen on the trial. On June 3, the Maori play Fiji in Suva as a forerunner to their clash with the Lions in Hamilton on June 11.

The drain of players from the trial will be accentuated if, as seems likely, the Crusaders make the Super 12 final. This is not due to be named until May 23 (when the trial teams will also be announced) but already there has been talk from Maori coach Matt Te Pou of the strongest Maori team ever fielded.

That means that Maori-eligible front-line All Blacks like Carl Hayman, Jono Gibbes, Rico Gear and Marty Holah will miss the trial.

Also likely to be on Maori duty are Luke McAlister, Piri Weepu, Daniel Braid and the Hurricanes' lock/loose forward Kristian Ormsby and lock Paul Tito, Hosea Gear, Shannon Paku and the Waldrom brothers.

Add to that the list of Crusader All Blacks likely to be playing in the Super 12 final: Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Chris Jack, Richie McCaw, Reuben Thorne, Mose Tuiali'i, Justin Marshall, Dan Carter, Aaron Mauger, Casey Laulala and Leon MacDonald.

While All Black selection is nowhere near as problematic as last year, the long list of potential missing-in-action players still begs the question of the value of an All Blacks trial this year.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry, fresh from being appointed with the rest of the panel until the end of the 2007 World Cup, was relaxed about the issue and the 26-strong squad for the new Junior All Blacks team will obviously feature strongly in trial selections.

The Juniors, taking over from the old New Zealand A side, will tour Australia in June, playing against the Queensland Reds and then in two internationals against Australia A.

Henry said one of the great advantages of the trial is that he, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, will actually get to coach ahead of the Lions series.

"You know, the All Black coaches haven't been doing a lot of coaching lately," he said.

"It's important we get back to grips with things and there'll be a sufficient number of international players at the trial we can work with during the week.

"The difficulty, of course, is that the way things are structured, we have to do the planning for these things before we know the results [of the Super 12] and who is available."

Henry also said the panel would work on a "case by case" basis if they felt that it was advantageous for individual All Blacks to play against the Lions in provincial matches ahead of the first test (Wellington and Otago the most likely possibilities).

Henry said that he was delighted by the appointment of the All Blacks coaching panel through to 2007 and said the decision would also carry through to the players.

"I think that it gives them some more confidence when there is security in the position."

Henry said, however, that the panel had already been looking well beyond their previous contract date of 2005.

"We took 32 players to Europe last year to ensure the depth of All Blacks rugby and we worked on that the whole tour through," he said.

"If you look at the team that played Wales, well, I guess you'd say that if survival of the coaching panel had been the top priority, we may not have fielded that particular side. But it gave us a chance to play guys in a marvellous environment, on top grounds and against a good opponent playing well.

"That's what it is all about."


Key dates

May 23: All Black trial squad named
May 23: NZ Maori squad named
June 3: All Black trial
June 4: Lions vs Bay of Plenty
June 4: All Black team vs Fiji named
June 4: NZ Maori team vs Lions named
June 4: Martin Johnson testimonial match
June 8: Lions vs Taranaki
June 10: All Blacks vs Fiji
June 11: NZ Maori vs Lions
June 12: All Black squad vs Lions named
June 12: Junior All Black squad named



- HERALD ON SUNDAY