All Blacks: Mealamu citing bad timing for ABs

Keven Mealamu. Photo / Getty Images

The All Black front-row resources could be tested to the limit if Keven Mealamu is found guilty of headbutting England captain Lewis Moody.

If the charge of striking with the head - laid by International Rugby Board-appointed commissioner John West for an incident at a ruck - is proven, Mealamu would almost certainly miss the rest of the tour.

The hearing will take place in Glasgow at 8am tomorrow morning (NZT), with IRB judicial officer Professor Lorne Crerar of Scotland adjudicating.

His potential suspension comes at an inopportune time for the All Blacks.

Already they have lost prop Ben Franks for the rest of the tour after he injured a disc in his back during a stretching session before last weekend's clash against England.

He will cross paths in mid-air with Wellington's Neemia Tialata, who left New Zealand last night and is not in serious consideration for the test against Scotland at Murrayfield in the weekend.

Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock are an established combination and John Afoa will be in the mix, but if Mealamu is suspended Afoa will also have to start practising lineout throws.

Hika Elliot, who has sat on the bench without getting a run yet on tour, is primed for a start, but Andrew Hore is only just getting his rugby legs back after rehabilitating a shoulder he dislocated during the Super 14.

There must be serious doubt about how much Hore could contribute should Elliot go down with an injury early in the match.

Mealamu will front an IRB judiciary tomorrow in Edinburgh where he will claim the alleged headbutt was unintentional and refer to his unblemished record (though many in Britain still hold him personally responsible for the alleged spear tackle and subsequent injury that knocked Brian O'Driscoll out of the ill-fated Lions tour in 2005).

The All Blacks were on the bus from Edinburgh Airport to their hotel when they learned of the citing and coach Graham Henry had not had a chance to study the footage before addressing the media.

"He's been cited for striking the head," said Henry. "It surprises me. He's probably the cleanest player in the world isn't he? It was purely accidental, as far as I know."

Television footage of the incident seems to contradict Henry's statement. Mealamu appeared to pull Moody back by the collar before propelling himself forward at the England captain while leading with his head.

There have been whispers that Mealamu may have been provoked by a sledge concerning his family, but they are unsubstantiated and do not marry with Henry's claim it was "purely accidental".

Given Henry's thoughts on Bakkies Botha's headbutt on Jimmy Cowan, which saw the South African spend nine weeks on the sidelines due in part to his appalling record, the All Black coach must be fearing the worst.

"He's probably lucky he didn't get more than nine weeks," Henry said of Botha at the time. "It was just one of those things ... which is not part of the game and has been dealt with correctly."

Henry described the Mealamu incident as "a concern" and "annoying", but said Hore was going to be part of the 22 for this week so it didn't change their configuration in that regard, though it would mean entrusting a start to the unproven Elliot.

"John [Afoa] gives us a wee bit of backing in that position."

Afoa's skills are more likely to be needed at prop, however, given the sudden lack of resources there.

All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said Franks had a scan in London on Sunday that confirmed a small disc bulge in his lower back.

"The injury means that he would have been unavailable for the next two tests against Scotland and Ireland and then only a possibility for the final test against Wales," Robinson said.

Tialata, 28, is a veteran of 43 tests and it was his versatility that gave him the nod.

"His biggest asset is he can play both sides of the scrum," Henry said.

Meanwhile, out in the high numbers, Cory Jane is rated "touch and go" for the Scotland test as he continues to recover from a chest injury suffered in Hong Kong.

Henry also said that barring injury and suspension they will pick a team "close" to their best for the match against a resurgent Scotland. That could mean both Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina equalling Sean Fitzpatrick's record of 92 caps.