MacDonald keeps tentative foot in squad

By WYNNE GRAY

Fullback Leon MacDonald has made an unchanged All Black squad to prepare for the Tri-Nations even though he missed the Hanmer training camp this week.

That absence, and a decision to keep Ben Blair on standby, indicates MacDonald will be dropped when the squad is trimmed on Tuesday to the XV and reserves for the opening Wallaby test.

Spectators at Hanmer practices indicated strong appearances from casualties like Tana Umaga, Taine Randell, Andrew Mehrtens and Marty Holah but noted MacDonald's non-appearance.

Holah's recovery from a knee ligament strain has bumped Sam Harding out of the 26-strong group which returns from Series One. Umaga's solidity has meant a similar fate for Paul Steinmetz.

But Blair and Sam Broomhall have been told to be on standby, a message which suggests the Christchurch-based pair will assemble and train with the All Blacks.

MacDonald's chances of facing the Wallabies next Saturday in Christchurch appear negligible. He suffered several head knocks during the Super 12, including one concussion, and against Fiji was concussed again when his forehead was badly gashed.

"Leon took a nasty knock from which he is recovering but he still needs a bit of time," coach John Mitchell said.

"His personal welfare is our main priority and we won't be pushing him before he is ready to return."

That should mean another reprieve for the All Blacks' record try-scorer in tests, Christian Cullen, who would play his 55th international next weekend.

Most backline debate will be about the wings - whether Jonah Lomu is best used as an impact player and if Byron Kelleher is the best halfback to confront George Gregan.

Discussion about the pack will largely focus on loosehead prop and who best to start out of Joe McDonnell or Dave Hewett.

Over the Tasman, the Wallabies are pushing several of their players to be fit for the Tri-Nations opener.

No 8 Toutai Kefu, who barged over for a last-minute try and victory against the All Blacks in Sydney last year, is recovering from a broken left hand. Premier goalkicker Matthew Burke is getting past a shoulder injury.

There is also concern about Jeremy Paul's tender ribs and a knee injury to his hooking replacement Brendan Cannon.

League convert Wendell Sailor was resigned to the prospect of losing his place on the wing, with Reds team-mate Ben Tune set to return from a knee injury.

Sailor conceded his two tests against France were a "mixed bag", but he was ahead of where he expected to be 16 months out from the World Cup, he wrote in a newspaper column.

"I'm down on myself for missing those one-on-one tackles that I don't normally miss. What makes it worse is the media magnifies it by 100 as if I've been missing them all season."

The Wallabies have held the Bledisloe Cup since 1998 and won seven out of the past nine tests with the All Blacks.

Both sides are unbeaten this season, with defending Tri-Nations champions, the Wallabies, having faced the stronger opposition.

"Australia has set the standards in recent years, they've got all the trophies," said Mitchell.

"But we've worked hard and everyone is looking forward to the opportunity to measure ourselves against them."

"The Hanmer camp allowed us to review what we had achieved so far, gain feedback from the players on our direction and deal with a number of organisational matters ahead of the Tri-Nations."

Former Wallaby skipper Mark Ella thinks coach Eddie Jones wants to use Mat Rogers in midfield but will play it safe and choose the more robust Daniel Herbert.

He also thinks Stirling Mortlock showed he was the best centre when Burke was injured against France.

"I would love nothing better than to see a backline of Gregan, Larkham, Tune, Rogers, Mortlock, Walker and Chris Latham," Ella said.

"It may not be possible in the short term, but it would be an interesting combination to try on the Wallabies end-of-season tour.

"But whatever happens next weekend in Christchurch, the Wallaby backline is still far from settled."

All Blacks squad: Leon MacDonald, Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Doug Howlett, Caleb Ralph, Mark Robinson, Tana Umaga, Daryl Gibson, Aaron Mauger, Andrew Mehrtens, Byron Kelleher, Justin Marshall, Scott Robertson, Taine Randell, Marty Holah, Richard McCaw, Reuben Thorne (capt), Norm Maxwell, Simon Maling, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Kees Meeuws, Dave Hewett, Joe McDonnell, Mark Hammett, Tom Willis. Standby: Ben Blair, Sam Broomhall.