Witcombe steps into frame for first test

Derren Witcombe

The emergence of Derren Witcombe as an All Black may be about to take another leap for next week's start to the test series against the Lions.

Witcombe moved from standby into the official squad of 26 yesterday when Anton Oliver was ruled out for a first-test start because of his torn calf muscle.

NZ Maori captain Jono Gibbes made similar progress yesterday when loose forward Mose Tuiali'i was declared unfit because of ongoing problems with a pinched nerve in his back.

A further scan of Oliver's injury revealed it had not healed sufficiently and he was only rated as hopeful for the second or third tests in the series.

With the Lions able to pick a very bulky front row, the All Black selectors may want to promote the bigger Witcombe ahead of his provincial colleague Keven Mealamu to start the set piece struggles against the Lions in Christchurch.

Witcombe is a very able lineout thrower and also extremely mobile, a player who showed in his test start against Fiji that he can handle the top level before Mealamu can be introduced for his dynamic pick and go ball-carrying expertise.

That All Black selection will be revealed next Tuesday.

Gibbes has been struggling with a painful plantar fascia injury on the sole of his foot, but he has trained this week with the team in Auckland. However the diagnosis is that if he plays in Christchurch he would be unlikely to recover enough to play the following week.

It is understood Tuiali'i will be available for the second and third test squads.

The All Blacks spent time yesterday training at Waitakere and will have a final session there today before they leave and regroup next week in Christchurch.

Coach Graham Henry travelled to Wellington to watch the Lions' midweek match but was back in Auckland in time to oversee yesterday's training. He offered no response to Lions manager Bill Beaumont's comments that All Blacks should have been released to play for their provinces against the tourists.