All Blacks: Eaton returns to pack with major point to prove

Jason Eaton will be starting test lock when the All Blacks play Wales on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

From forgotten All Black to starting test lock, Jason Eaton will stride on to Millennium Stadium on Sunday with the simple rugby mantra: sink or swim.

It is the familiar refrain for the 2009 tourists as it also applies to halfback Brendon Leonard, prop Wyatt Crockett and exciting debut winger Zac Guildford, who had the selection door pushed ajar by the All Blacks coaches amid six changes to play a fired-up Wales.

The other two returnees, loose forwards Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino, are well established but know after last week's Tokyo test against Australia that their starting spots are not guaranteed.

No disrespect to the hosts, coach Graham Henry made a point of saying, but the blueprint was in place when they simultaneously picked the sides to face the Wallabies and Wales.

To prove that most, if not all, the 33-man squad are worth persevering with as the two-year countdown to the World Cup begins. And do it playing winning rugby, with a 56-year winning streak against Wales to be maintained, at one of the world's most imposing arenas. No pressure.

"It's a selection going forward into next year and the year after. There's probably 10 players not available through injury and there's one or two who may come home from overseas," Henry said.

"It gives this group of players a chance to say 'I'm an international footballer of quality', and you can't judge that unless they play."

Eaton, one of the special projects of the 2005 Grand Slam tour, may have thought this day would never come.

His previous run-on test was 27 months ago, against Australia in Auckland, before he underwent a full knee reconstruction.

The mobile 27-year-old returned but did not play a test in 2008, and this year played just four times off the bench.

Now, the race is on between Eaton, Tom Donnelly, Anthony Boric and Isaac Ross - the latter ordered to remain home and bulk up - to be the country's No 3 lock behind the injured Ali Williams and ageless Brad Thorn.

"Jason's been on the fringe of international rugby for a long time. He had a major knee reconstruction and came back from that, and he needs an opportunity to prove to us that he's a top quality international player," Henry said.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said Eaton was now bigger and stronger than ever and ready to rumble.

Leonard gets his chance to stay ahead of Andy Ellis in the pecking order after a frustrating season where Jimmy Cowan established himself as the first-choice halfback.

The speedy Waikato No 9 started just two tests this year, against Italy and South Africa.

Crockett, meanwhile, waited patiently in premier loosehead Tony Woodcock's shadow until the latter whacked George Smith last Saturday and got a one-match ban for his trouble.

Having debuted against Italy in June, Crockett gets his second test and will fancy his chances against Welsh tighthead Paul James, who has emerged from nowhere for his second test in six years.

"Wyatt's done a huge apprenticeship and played very well at the level below. He's a senior player in a pretty dominant Crusaders pack," Henry said.

It all adds up to a nice mix for the All Blacks, for whom Otago fullback Ben Smith is in line for a test debut if required off the reserves bench.

Wales will provide their regular stern challenge with a host of British and Irish Lions players and 10 experienced returnees from the 2003 World Cup squad.

Their 2003 coach, now the All Blacks attack coach Steve Hansen, expected plenty of fireworks under the Millennium Stadium roof.

"I'm sure the players are excited about playing the All Blacks, they always are. Just reading the paper they're obviously pretty confident about it," Hansen said. "Last year they chucked everything at us and it was a tough game of footy. We're expecting the same thing."

- NZPA