Both teacher and pupil looked pleased with this return to class.
After less than two years away, inside back Luke McAlister was welcomed back into the All Blacks yesterday, training with the team on a windswept University Oval. He flew into Dunedin early in the morning in time to get on the bus - where he got a big cheer - to go to training ahead of Saturday's test against France at Carisbrook. The 25-year-old said his return from England was a bit sooner than he expected.
"It's great to be back. It is going to take me a while to get back into it and I'll be working hard throughout the week," he said.
"It's a bit faster than I'm used to. With the new rules the boys are a lot stronger and a lot fitter. Up north the types of fields you play on really dictates the style you play."
McAlister was originally due to head for Samoa from Sydney to play for the Junior All Blacks, but was instead diverted to Dunedin to join the national squad. All Black coach Graham Henry said it was great to have McAlister back in the squad.
"He is a quality footballer and a quality person. But it is going to take some time and he has not played for 3 months.
"The abilities are there."
McAlister believed he had grown a bit and experienced something new in his two seasons with the Sale Sharks but said he should be judged on how he performed in the next few weeks for the All Blacks.
McAlister was able to join the All Blacks despite not having played Super 14, through centre Richard Kahui's season ending with a shoulder injury.
Henry admitted they had held back on the announcement of Kahui's replacement until watching McAlister play in the Barbarians match against the Wallabies on Saturday night.
"We wanted to wait and see how Luke got on and I thought he played pretty well. I thought he was the only guy who looked to create anything in the Barbarians team."
Henry admitted yesterday's training was rusty and said it was at best a six out of 10.
"There is a lot of new stuff and it takes some time to get together.
"We were not as sharp as we should be but that is to be expected. And to be fair training in a gale does not help, and a cold gale at that."
He confirmed centre Conrad Smith, lock Ali Williams, halfback Brendon Leonard and loose forward Jerome Kaino would not play on Saturday, because of various injuries.
The four players did some limited work at the lengthy training session.
"We could push them perhaps to play but that would be silly. It is a long international season, 15 games and we want them for the 15 games, not be buggered in the first one."
Henry will name his starting team today and said the unavailability of players was not a blessing but more an opportunity for others.
"If we get through these three weeks and play well then it will be a better team going forward, with more experience and leadership on field.
"It is a good opportunity for guys to lead."
Meanwhile, France yesterday lost two experienced players following the club final in Paris last weekend.
Veteran winger Aurelien Rougerie and flanker Julien Bonnaire withdrew from the touring squad because of injury and were replaced by two uncapped players, Stade Francais winger Julien Arias and Bayonne's Julien Puricelli. Rougerie and Bonnaire have more than 100 caps between them.
France had already lost original tour captain Lionel Nallet, experienced No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy and halfback Morgan Parra before the first wave of players arrived in Auckland last week.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
All Blacks: McAlister returns in good cheer
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