Rugby: McAlister hopeful injury woes at an end

NZ Maori second-five Luke McAlister. Photo / NZPA

Luke McAlister is crossing his fingers that his injury respite during his time with New Zealand Maori marks the start of an upturn in his rugby fortunes.

McAlister, who missed out on All Blacks selection for the home test programme against Ireland and Wales, has played 80 minutes at second five-eighth in both the Maori team's matches so far.

He hopes to make it three in a row when they complete their centenary series, against England in Napier tonight.

McAlister, 26, came into the Maori camp after his game time for the Blues this year was restricted by injury and form.

He missed the first four rounds of the Super 14 because of a calf strain, then suffered a fractured nose in training.

Earlier this month, back spasms kept him out of the North Harbour's fixture against Japan.

McAlister, who has 30 test appearances to his name, said he had come through the Maori wins over the New Zealand Barbarians and Ireland well.

"The body's fine," he said.

"I'm just stoked to be able to get a couple of 80 minutes under the belt.

"It's been a frustrating year. It's good to be able to put back-to-back games together and hopefully this is the last of my bad luck."

McAlister felt his timing was slowly coming back and being able to get through the two matches unscathed was a boost to confidence.

While making the All Blacks' Tri-Nations squad is a goal, he is not focusing on it too much.

"For me, it's just getting game time and playing, and not worrying about too far ahead."

Having had a stint with English club Sale, McAlister is familiar with many of the players in the England side.

Sale provide two in the starting 15 in centre Mathew Tait and first five-eighth Charlie Hodgson, while there is a third player from the club in the tour party in halfback Richard Wigglesworth.

McAlister was looking to catch up with them, and given the differing fortunes between the England soccer team and the All Whites in South Africa, the World Cup was likely to be topic for some banter.

"How are England doing? Not too well," he quipped.

A soccer player in his younger days, McAlister said the exploits of the All Whites at the World Cup had provided a boost for the Maori.

He and his teammates had got up to watch the draws with Slovakia and world champions Italy, results that had kept alive New Zealand's hopes of a shock advance to the knockout stages.

"We're really proud of what they are doing at the moment," he said.

"It would be unreal if they went through."

Maori assistant coach Daryl Gibson said the most pleasing aspect of McAlister's performances was his consistency over 80 minutes.

"As the All Blacks selectors have already indicated, the key thing for Luke is that he is back playing," Gibson said.

"The best place for him at the moment is with us and he's achieving that against quality opposition."

- NZPA