All Black locks face tough assignment

Injured All Black Ali Williams becomes "coach" during the All Blacks' training session yesterday. Picture / Paul Estcourt

An All Black recall at lock promises a tough induction for Troy Flavell against Ireland's rugged second-row combination.

Flavell and newly eligible Greg Rawlinson filled the locking duties yesterday at training because the senior choice Ali Williams was hampered by an ankle injury.

Williams is expected to recover for the June 10 start to the international programme against Ireland in Hamilton and comments by coach Graham Henry suggested Flavell would be his locking partner.

If that occurs, the Auckland pair will tangle with Irishmen Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan who want some payback for the problems encountered on the Lions tour last season.

O'Connell is the Irish pack leader and a fiery forward who will try to provoke Flavell and Williams and their stormy temperaments.

Another on the All Black comeback trail, Jerome Kaino, would then fill the blindside flanker role and further aggravate those who supported Reuben Thorne's inclusion in the extended squad.

In discussing broad selection issues, Henry indicated more obstacles to Thorne's selection, with Flavell, Jono Gibbes and perhaps James Ryan best suited to the utility lock-flanker duties.

With Jerry Collins as skipper of the side to play Argentina and Kaino, Craig Newby or Richie McCaw all options on the blindside, Thorne's return to the No 6 jersey also seems stymied.

"We see him [Flavell] as a lock-six rather than a six-lock," Henry said yesterday.

When the selectors pruned their squad to 30 players, including three hookers and three halfbacks, picking four locks would be a luxury. It was important to have someone like Flavell to cover lock and loose forward.

He was in good shape after injuring his shoulder six weeks ago, and the selectors also felt prop Neemia Tialata would recover from his knee problem.

There was also an optimistic medical bulletin about Tony Woodcock's fitness for the Argentina test but no indication about the health of Piri Weepu or Chris Masoe who were both injured in the 'Soupa' 14 final.

Backline coach Wayne Smith could not have been more effusive about Irish centre and captain Brian O'Driscoll or the calibre of his side.

"O'Driscoll is world class and he has developed his defence to another level, he is like another loose forward and New Zealand will be in for a treat," Smith said.

"He is one of the [more] special players that's ever been probably."

His appearance would test Casey Laulala and Ma'a Nonu, who had to step up for retired skipper Tana Umaga who had been a "beast" on both attack and defence.

The Irish would present a strong threat and would be better than the Lions last year, they would be more unified. They had won the Triple Crown and Munster had just won the Heineken Cup.

"They are with two of their key players, their leaders O'Driscoll and O'Connell who did not play against us in the autumn, so I think all in all it points to them being passionate, much more competitive than they were in the autumn and probably hurting.

"They experienced a Lions tour which was disappointing, they experienced a loss at Lansdowne Rd and we know what we would be like under those conditions. They are going to be a tough opposition, which is good, it's what we need."

The All Black staff were working hard to prepare both squads for the Irish and Argentine assignments.

The squad to play Ireland would disband to absorb a new set of gameplans and would reassemble at the weekend.

The separate team preparation was a logistical challenge but it had worked best for the All Blacks on last year's Grand Slam tour.

Skills work was paramount because the game had changed again and it was harder to crack defences.