Thorne takes long road back to No 6

Reuben Thorne

As sporting comebacks go, Reuben Thorne's is some effort.

After being on the unwanted list for 27 tests during Graham Henry's coaching tenure, the former All Black captain has been reinstated to Saturday's side for the Wellington test against the Springboks.

When former coach John Mitchell was dumped after the failed 2003 World Cup campaign, his successor Henry also ignored Thorne's claims to continue in the All Black test side.

In the middle of his third year in charge Henry has used Jono Gibbes, Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo, Sione Lauaki, Angus Macdonald, Marty Holah and Jerome Kaino as the All Blacks blindside flanker.

There was a near reprieve for Thorne in 2004 when he was called on as a replacement for Gibbes on the tour of Europe and played at lock in the fixture against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

But there was no headway last season and even though he played consistently for the Crusaders this year, Thorne could not make the bloated squad of 39 for the initial three tests.

The lines of communication between Thorne and Henry were strained after the flanker rejected selection as the NZ Juniors captain while his wife revealed the frustration in a phone call to radio talkback.

Holah and Kaino were used as blindside flankers in the tests against Ireland and Troy Flavell was the selectors' pick as the lock/flanker utility ahead of Thorne.

Neither Holah nor Kaino scrubbed up on the blindside, Flavell underwent surgery for chest muscle problems and the 31-year-old Thorne was recalled to the Tri-Nations squad.

With Lauaki and Macdonald injured and Collins still sore after the Bledisloe Cup test, Thorne has his chance against the Springboks.

His solidity will be a useful counter against the Boks' forward play and his leadership and experience will be an accessory for new skipper Richie McCaw.

Henry's No 6s

Jono Gibbes
Jerry Collins
Rodney So'oialo
Sione Lauaki
Angus Macdonald
Marty Holah
Jerome Kaino
Reuben Thorne