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MARSEILLE - The sun shone on the All Blacks' ailing locks at the rugby World Cup today, or at least the cloud lifted.
Coach Graham Henry took great delight in announcing that injured duo Keith Robinson (calf) and Reuben Thorne (hamstring) would be fit for New Zealand's third pool C match against Scotland at Edinburgh next week.
However, in the same breath he admitted he hadn't ruled out flying over replacement cover.
"We were looking at later this week to see how they are. Today is Tuesday Wednesday NZ time) and they're making very good progress," Henry said of the pair who will miss a second game when the All Blacks face Portugal at Lyon on Saturday.
"They're further ahead than I thought they'd be and that's pleasing.
"They're on track and according to our medical staff will be available to play next week."
Scotland looms large for another reason for the All Blacks players, with Henry confirming he would select his strongest team for that match on September 24.
That selection will provide a clear guide to the side likely to contest the quarterfinals and beyond at this tournament.
The fourth and final pool game against Romania shapes as another hit-out for effectively the second-choice team, as is the case this week.
Veteran hooker Anton Oliver could understand the coaches' methods, which sees the team overhauled every week of the tournament until the semifinals.
"There's a certain amount of invention in the team that's been picked (this week)," the former captain said.
"The team culture can break down so we want to utilise everyone that we can. Later on in the quarterfinal, semifinal, final, there won't be as much rotation.
"But early on we want to get everyone involved as rugby players."
There was even more positive news on the injury front today as Conrad Smith was named to start at centre.
That was also the case last week but the injury-plagued Smith strained his hamstring 24 hours before kickoff.
Smith's inclusion pushes No 13 rival Isaia Toeava onto the right wing but Henry indicated Toeava would get time at centre later in the game.
"This just means both our centres are playing. Isaia's probably our fourth winger, he goes well there," he said.
Centre against Italy, Mils Muliaina, shifts to fullback and is the only starting back retained from the 76-14 Italian demolition.
Three forwards are back - locks Ali Williams and Chris Jack and flanker Jerry Collins, who will be captain for the second time after making his leadership debut against Argentina last year.
"There's a number of people who could have captained the side. Jerry's done it before and he's done a good job there," Henry said.
The reserve bench was nearly a bigger talking point than the starting 15, with four front row forwards included.
Prop Carl Hayman is earmarked as a lock reserve while hooker Keven Mealamu will cover the loose forwards.
The only fit forward not in the 22 is flanker and regular captain Richie McCaw, who suffered a couple of blows at training this week.
However, Henry said nothing should be read into Mealamu's selection over McCaw.
"It will get him (Mealamu) on the field, which will be important," Henry said.
"It's a part of the game that tight five forwards need more game time to get ready for big time rugby than loose forwards or backs. It's an experience thing, all right?
"There's no camouflage here, I thought we would have learned about that after 3-1/2 years but I guess we're slow learners."
Reserve halfback Andy Ellis will be the only fit member of the 30-man squad not to get a start in either of the first two tests.
Meanwhile, Henry was asked to once again clarify his comments that the All Blacks will be "sensitive" about the safety of the smaller Portugal amateurs in Saturday's test.
Despite their competitive showing in losing 10-56 to Scotland on Sunday, Henry said a question mark remained over the quality of the Portugal scrum.
"We've got to be sensible if we've got scrum dominance, how we handle that scrum dominance and make sure that we look after opposition props to some extent," he said.
"If we've got dominance, and hopefully we will have, we don't just want to kill people. If you understand my logic."
- NZPA
