All Blacks optimistic Tialata will be fit for takeoff

All Black hooker Keven Mealamu on the swiss ball during the All Black training session at Waitakere yesterday. The team leaves for Europe tomorrow. Picture / Brett Phibbs

The wait continues for All Black prop Neemia Tialata with a decision on his fitness for the end-of-year tour left until departure day tomorrow.

The forecast yesterday was "optimistic" that Tialata would still squeeze into the playing deadline set by the selectors - that he be ready for the second game on tour against France at Lyon.

The frontrower did not train yesterday but that was expected. He had been undergoing intensive physiotherapy on his damaged right calf and that treatment needed to settle before he could resume exercise.

Inquiries about any players being with the group as standby for the four test trip to England, France and Wales were fended off. There were no extra players with the squad although the panel would have identified any potential replacements.

Those contenders if a prop was required could be Saimone Taumoepeau or Campbell Johnstone. But if the All Black selectors decided to leave their propping resources, they could then include Liam Messam to bolster the loose forward mix. Another uncertain tourist, Leon MacDonald, ran on his tender leg with reports the pain had reduced substantially.

Keith Robinson, Piri Weepu and Jerry Collins were excused the bulk of the session as they were still showing the effects of the final of the Air New Zealand Cup.

It was revealed yesterday that the All Blacks will start their World Cup season with five successive internationals. Two weeks after the final of the Super 14, the All Blacks will play France at Eden Park on June 2 before playing the same side in Wellington. A test follows against Canada in Hamilton before the side flies to South Africa for their start to the Tri-Nations the next Saturday.

That tough schedule continues with the team then returning to Melbourne for the beginning of the Bledisloe Cup series. They get a break of two weeks before successive return tests against the Springboks and Wallabies.

Once that test segment ends on July 21, the All Blacks have a seven-week break before their first World Cup test on September 9 against Italy in Marseille.

Meanwhile, the Super 14 coaches met yesterday in Wellington to mull over draft players and complete their negotiations for squads which will all be revealed at the same time today.

The Blues have apparently left five-eighths Tasesa Lavea out of their original protected selection of 24 players. Lavea has been a controversial figure for the Blues since he took over as backline pivot from Carlos Spencer.

It is understood Northland five-eighths David Holwell has been picked for the Blues as his replacement.

NZ 2007 TEST SCHEDULE

International Series
June 2: v France, Auckland
June 9: v France, Wellington
June 16: v Canada, Hamilton

Tri-Nations
June 23: v South Africa, venue to be confirmed
June 30: v Australia, Melbourne
July 14: v South Africa, Christchurch
July 21: v Australia, Auckland

World Cup
Sept 9: v Italy, Marseille
Sept 16: v Repechage 1, Lyon
Sept 24: v Scotland, Edinburgh
Sept 30: v Romania, Toulouse.