Lomu out, Umaga in

3.30pm

Jonah Lomu has again been dropped from the All Blacks squad for Saturday's Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup rugby test against Australia.

He was left out of the home clash with the Wallabies three weeks ago and is not needed again after playing off the bench against South Africa a week later.

Only one change has been made to the starting team that beat South Africa 41-20 in Wellington, with Tana Umaga replacing Mark Robinson at centre.

Fullback Leon MacDonald has come onto the bench along with midfield back Daryl Gibson, who missed the test against South Africa.

MacDonald missed both home Tri-Nations matches after being sidelined with concussion and a deep cut above the eye during the match against Fiji on June 29.

Lock Norm Maxwell remains out of the squad with a hamstring problem. He, too, has missed the last two Tri-Nations tests.

Hooker Mark Hammett, who suffered a knee injury against the Springboks in Wellington two weeks ago, bruised a knee cap at training today and has been bracketed with Tom Willis for the match.

Hammett was having an x-rays later today to assess the extent of the injury.

Coach John Mitchell said he may wait until kick-off on Saturday before deciding who would start as hooker.

The biggest talking point of the team was the absence of the colossal winger Lomu.

He scored the winner in the 39-35 win over Australia in Sydney two years ago but Mitchell said his exclusion gave the All Blacks better options.

"With Leon being available, the mix improves somewhat with an additional goalkicker and specialist fullback cover. Also Tana covers the third wing spot in this mix," Mitchell said.

"We have gone for this combination because of some of the skills Australia are likely to use on our back three.

" It's by no means the end of Jonah, it just comes down to the mix.

"We believe there are certain strengths Australia have got that would try and expose our back three. We believe...the other players fit this opportunity to deal with that.

"The mix gives us more opportunities, more utilities."

The All Black management clearly has concerns about Wallaby playmaker Steve Larkham's ability to put the ball behind Lomu and put pressure on the All Blacks defence.

"Jonah is progressing -- no doubt at all. There's no reason why you won't see him again -- you will see him again at some stage."

Team: Christian Cullen, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Caleb Ralph, Aaron Mauger, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Chris Jack, Simon Maling, Reuben Thorne (captain). Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett or Tom Willis, Dave Hewett.

Reserves: Willis or Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Joe McDonnell Marty Holah, Sam Broomhall, Byron Kelleher, Daryl Gibson, Leon MacDonald.

- NZPA