Rugby: Brilliant Colts' combination spawns six players for NZA

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland reject Rico Gear has emerged from the NPC second division to make the New Zealand A side to tour France, Wales and Romania next month.

The 22-year-old Gear, originally from Poverty Bay, was loaned to Bay of Plenty and scored the only try as they won Saturday's final against Nelson Bays in Tauranga in front of the three All Blacks selectors.

Gear is the only second division player in the 26-man squad which will be coached by Robbie Deans.

The side includes six players from the New Zealand Colts side which grew into a brilliant combination at the international tournament around Auckland this year.

They are Aucklanders Keven Mealamu, Orene Ai'i and Malili Muliaina; Canterbury's Ben Blair; Wellington's Jerry Collins; and Otago's Carl Hayman.

It can only be assumed that age counted against another member of the Colts side, Wellington flanker Rodney So'oialo, who was a powerful force as Wellington made their run to the NPC first division title.

Eight players who have worn the All Blacks jersey, Caleb Ralph, Scott McLeod, Tony Brown, Mark Robinson, Kupu Vanisi, Royce Willis, Glenn Taylor and Carl Hoeft are also included in the side.

Gear has been chosen as a wing/centre option, as has Ralph. Ai'i will cover fullback, wing and first-five-eighth, which shows a versatility which can be both a help and a hindrance to a player's career.

Maybe the loudest cheer in the New Zealand A selection will be reserved for captain Glenn Taylor.

Taylor is a central part of the miracle work that goes on in a Northland team who still seem to act as a feeder side for other top unions, despite their own success in the first division.

The 30-year-old Taylor, who was drafted from the Blues to be the Chiefs' Super 12 captain this year, led a Northland side which still had a chance of making the top four play-offs going into the last round of the NPC title race.

New Zealand A team

Backs:

Ben Blair (Canterbury), Daryl Lilley (Taranaki), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Malili Muliaina (Auckland), Orene Ai'i (Auckland), Rico Gear (Bay of Plenty), Rua Tipoki (North Harbour), Scott McLeod (Waikato), David Holwell (Wellington), Tony Brown (Otago), Mark Robinson (Nth Harbour), Jason Spice (Wellington).

Forwards:

Koula Tukino (Counties-Manukau), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Kelvin Middleton (Otago), Kupu Vanisi (Wellington), Justin Collins (Northland), Royce Willis (Waikato), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Dion Waller (Wellington), Glenn Taylor (capt, Northland), Carl Hayman (Otago), Carl Hoeft (Otago), Dave Hewett (Canterbury), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Slade McFarland (North Harbour).