Hosea Gear. Photo / Getty Images
Hosea Gear is making a habit of late call-ups.
There was his entry into the World Cup squad when Mils Muliaina was invalided out before the tournament semifinals and his inclusion yesterday as a replacement in the All Blacks' wider training group.
When the original squad was picked, the All Black selectors bypassed Gear because they had enough talent and thought he was heading to Japan.
Then Richard Kahui and Cory Jane suffered serious injuries and Gear decided he was enjoying his footy enough with the Highlanders to stay in New Zealand.
Gear's inclusion means he is the third left wing in the squad with Julian Savea and another injury replacement, Zac Guildford, all favouring work down that side of the field.
All Black coach Steve Hansen has dismissed worries about having a clutch of left wings. He believes they can adapt and does not buy into ideas that they should limit themselves to one side of the field.
Whether Gear's call-up is temporary will be revealed on Sunday when the training squad is cut to a 30-strong All Black group to play Ireland in three tests in June. In recent years the All Blacks have managed to expand those groups by including injured or recovering players and that pattern may continue.
There is doubt about hooker Keven Mealamu's recovery from his repeat calf problems and Hika Elliot has also been summoned to Wellington for the second and last national training camp which finishes there tomorrow.
"As for Keven, he has been struggling with a calf injury for some time now," Hansen said.
"He had a second scan before he came into the All Blacks camp last week that revealed he has suffered a second strain in the same calf. It's in a different part of the same calf so we are taking a prudent approach with him."
The All Black panel rebuffed ideas they should pick three hookers for their first camp in Auckland but have had to amend that plan as Mealamu has not been able to train fully.
They have been looking for a younger hooker to understudy Mealamu and Andrew Hore - who both blew out 30 candles long ago - but have been unable to identify that player.
Hansen mentioned the selectors were familiar with the work and performance of other choices Elliot, Cory Flynn and Dane Coles.
Elliot is only 26 so fits the younger template but something in his game initially must have disconcerted Hansen. Coles turns 26 late this year while Flynn has blown out 31 candles and played 15 tests in a career which started in 2003.
Gear has been on a similar slow burn. Five years ago, he made his test debut on the right wing against the Wallabies in Hong Kong while the rest of his limited international career has been on the other flank.
Guildford has started two of his eight tests on the right but prefers to unleash his speed from the other flank where Savea plays, but has yet to debut in the test black uniform.
Gear blasted in for two weekend tries in an industrious Super 15 display for the Highlanders, Savea ran in a hat-trick for the Hurricanes at the Cake Tin while Guildford sat it out in a bye round for the Crusaders.
The selectors have identified Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison as utilities in the training group, players whose preferred roles are at fullback and centre but can cover adequately on the wing or at second five-eighths.