Unusual. How else do you describe the All Blacks' decision to stick with their diminished numbers for their latest tilt at the Grand Slam?
Especially when one of their original wing choices, Sitiveni Sivivatu, fell over before his warrant of fitness assessment in Waikato's semifinal of the ITM Cup.
When Cory Jane was wounded in the Hong Kong test the All Blacks were down to 28 fit players and just a couple of wings, Hosea Gear and Joe Rokocoko. Yet this All Black selection group, with its history of taking bloated squads on the end of year trips to Europe, has not called for any replacement.
This tour was meant to mirror the All Blacks' World Cup campaign, a chance to take a reduced group to test-drive their ideas and strategies. There is no way the All Blacks would keep a reduced squad during a World Cup unless injured players were assured of recovery. Sivivatu will not come right, Jane will at some stage.
Since this All Black selection and coaching group took over, they have taken extended groups to Europe at the end of each season outside the 2007 World Cup. In 2004, they took 32 for three tests and a Barbarians match, in 2005 it was 35 for four tests and a year later 32 travelled for four internationals. In 2008, 36 players went for five tests plus the Munster match while 33 exited for five tests and a Barbarians game last season. This year 29 went through customs for five internationals while Jane's rib damage has left them with 28 fit troops for this weekend's selection against England.
So gimme some theories about the lack of wing replacements. Rene Ranger has recovered from a blow to his larynx in his last match against Bay of Plenty, Zac Guildford and Ben Smith are fit and ready, though Israel Dagg is not expected to start running again for about a week after his thigh injury. There are choices with Ranger the logical answer if the All Blacks want a threequarter utility.
But maybe the coaches have other ideas. They may want someone from the ITM Cup final between Canterbury and Waikato but want to wait until that match is played, to give that player time to focus on the final.
When the All Black squad was announced, Robbie Fruean was mentioned as an unlucky omission from a congested outside back group while the selectors could alter their strategies and pick Colin Slade for some five-eighths duties. A replacement would not have been used against England this weekend and at best, might have been on the bench for the next test against Scotland. So if someone is to be added to the tour party and that person is playing in the ITM Cup final, he can hop on a plane after that decider.
All Black coach Graham Henry and assistant coach Wayne Smith. Photo / Getty Images
