Thorne back in black

A serious lack of depth at lock in New Zealand rugby left the All Blacks with no choice but to recall former captain Reuben Thorne says coach Graham Henry.
Thorne was to arrive here early tomorrow morning (NZ time) to cover for the injured Jono Gibbes but he will not be involved in Saturday's test against Italy at Stadio Flaminio.
Henry's decision to return to the 41-test veteran appears to contradict the developmental status he has placed on this four-match tour. And the coach made it clear Thorne would be used as a lock, not on the blindside flank where he has played almost all his domestic and international rugby for the last three years.
Henry was quick to pre-empt any criticism of the selection, saying Thorne was a player capable of stepping straight into test rugby while the other young locks in New Zealand weren't yet.
"We looked very closely but we didn't think there was a positive to bring someone who wasn't ready and just be a part of the group, " Henry said.
"(Reuben) played quite a lot at lock in his early days for Canterbury and the Crusaders. He's a very experienced footballer and we could do with that experience in the middle row.
"There are 4-5 young guys in New Zealand who in 12 months time might be knocking on the door but they're certainly not knocking on the door at the moment.
"We needed someone who could play."
Thorne, 29, captained the All Blacks in 22 consecutive tests for 19 wins in 2002-03 under coach John Mitchell.
When omitting Thorne earlier this year, Henry said he needed to add more dynamicism to his game.
Assistant coach Steve Hansen said Thorne had improved that area of the game before the touring squad was named but still not enough and that he would benefit from having his first off-season break for some time.
There will be three past or present captains in the squad led by Tana Umaga, with Thorne also joining his predecessor as skipper, Anton Oliver.
All Blacks management did not want to rush Gibbes home in case his calf muscle tear recovered more quickly than anticipated, lifting the playing squad size to 33.
"Jono Gibbes is very questionable whether he'll play on the tour. Hopefully he will but we don't know that at this stage, " Henry said.
"It's a day by day thing. It will probably be next week before the Welsh test (November 20) that we'll have a very good look at him to see where he's at. It's just a pity because we wanted to develop him as a lock on this tour.
"He was looking forward to that but it's not going to happen probably."
It is an ironical switch as Gibbes was the player who inherited Thorne's blindside flanker position when the new coaching team headed by Henry took over from Mitchell at the start of this year.
Thorne remains a well respected figure among his teammates.
Canterbury and Crusaders lock Chris Jack was smiling when he heard of the squad's latest addition.
"It's good to see Reuben back, he's a man with a lot of experience," Jack said.
"He's been a crucial part of the All Blacks in the past and it'll be good to have him back here with his experience and knowledge. I can't wait to see him."
Jack remembered Thorne played mostly at lock during his first seasons with Canterbury and he kept his brother Graham on the reserve bench much of the time.
"I hope he doesn't keep me out," Jack laughed.
"He's a good player, there's no doubt about it and he'll be great at lock."
The All Blacks trained privately in muddy conditions at the Unione Rugby Capitolina club grounds following heavy overnight rain and were able to finalise their 22 for Saturday's test.
Uncapped Luke McAlister was unable to train because of his hamstring injury so the five-eighth reserve spot goes to Aaron Mauger.
Better news was the recovery of Corey Flynn from a groin strain, seeing him earn the reserve hooking berth ahead of Keven Mealamu. ? NZPA