Veteran tunes up misfiring All Blacks lineout

The Wallabies beat the All Blacks in another line-out - something that has been a constant problem in this year's Tri-Nations series. Ian Waldie / Getty Images

The Wallabies beat the All Blacks in another line-out - something that has been a constant problem in this year's Tri-Nations series.

Lineout maestro Robin Brooke's appearance at yesterday's All Blacks training session might not be a one-off this season.

Brooke, who played 62 tests between 1992 and the 1999 World Cup, was called in by All Blacks coach Graham Henry as the search for a fix to his team's biggest problem continues.

"He's a very good lineout coach," Henry said.

"He's looked at our lineout over the last two test matches, and has come up with some suggestions of how we can improve."

Brooke, 39, was called in by Henry to help the All Blacks in 2004, and has been involved with the national under-21 and under-19 teams.

"It wasn't too long ago that he was playing for the All Blacks," Henry said.

"He's got a lot of knowledge about lineouts, so we got him in to help us out and it's been very positive."

Henry said Brooke was called in for one training camp, but "maybe ... occasionally" he might be approached for help again.

Henry admitted after the indoor session at Christchurch's Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday that plenty of work was still needed on the lineout.

"We think we've made very good progress last night and today, and we've still got some work to do.

"There's not going to be a quick fix. It's something we're going to have to work on over the next 15 or 18 months."

Brooke took lineout specialists Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson and Jason Eaton through jumping drills yesterday.

In other developments, Canterbury halfback Andy Ellis joined the camp for his first taste of All Blacks training as cover for the injured Piri Weepu and Jimmy Cowan, who sprained his right ankle late in Southland's loss to Waikato on Saturday.

Waikato wing Sitiveni Sivivatu also trained yesterday after missing the All Blacks programme this year with a leg injury.

He scored a try for Waikato last weekend and Henry said he was in the camp because "we just want to see how he is".

Henry plans to keep "experimenting" with his 30-man Tri-Nations squad, which will stay intact for the remaining three tests - one against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday week and two against South Africa at home.

"We hope to get everyone on the track so they've got more experience of playing test rugby ... so we've got that depth and team unity," Henry said.

That policy would "finish at some stage" and All Blacks management would then "just concentrate on trying to produce the best team all the time".

Henry said the main focus for the All Blacks was the Wallabies test and he would not be tempted to rest key players before the South African leg.

"We want to win this. We've got a chance of winning the Tri-Nations in Auckland if we play well."

- NZPA