All Blacks: Restored No 8s primed to lead Bledisloe charge

Rodney So'oialo is likely to return on July 18 alongside Richie McCaw and Sitiveni Sivivatu. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Wallabies will reintroduce the thunder of Wycliff Palu while the All Blacks seem likely to turn to the energy of Rodney So'oialo as the Bledisloe Cup sides reorganise their loose forward platforms.

Neither No 8 has played a test this season, with Palu recovering from a broken hand while So'oialo was spelled to recover from a neck problem and to regather his spark after hitting flat patches at the tail end of the Super 14.

So'oialo is likely to return on July 18 alongside fellow regulars Sitiveni Sivivatu and Richie McCaw.

The Wallabies have won all four of their tests this season and used a near full-strength side in their last outing against France, while the All Blacks experimented with selections in their patchy victory against Italy.

While the Wallabies have a more settled side, they are still dealing with the aftermath of Lote Tuqiri's sacking and their concerns have forced the Rugby Union Players' Association to investigate.

"I have spoken to the captain of the Wallabies [Stirling Mortlock] and many from the Wallaby team and they have genuine concerns about the manner in which Lote's sacking has been handled by the ARU and NSWRU," Rupa chief executive Tony Dempsey said.

"An 'iron curtain' has descended on relations between the players and senior management of the ARU. Players feel fearful and intimidated. We need to restore trust and credibility with the game's administrators."

Dempsey's opinion seemed at odds with public noises from Mortlock, who said his side had discussed the Tuqiri dismissal but were now totally focused on next week's test at Eden Park.

Tuqiri's multimillion-dollar contract was torn up after allegations he breached team protocol in an incident at the Wallabies' hotel.

Neither the ARU nor Tuqiri, who has escaped the furore to holiday with his family in Papua New Guinea, have made any comment on the details of his dismissal, while his Wallaby team-mates are nonplussed about events.

"We've laid a great foundation in the first month or so of our season and are now ramping up into Tri-Nations mode," said Mortlock, trying to divert attention away from the Tuqiri furore.

"Everyone is professional and we are focused on what is in front of us. It is irrelevant if Lote is here or not."

Massive No 8 Palu hammered through training, as did reserve halfback Will Genia, who has not played for two months because of a hand injury, while alternative backrower Rocky Elsom sat out most of the session because of knee trouble.

The Wallabies have used George Smith and Richard Brown at No 8 this season as Palu has recovered from his injuries, while the All Blacks used Liam Messam and Kieran Read in that role for their tests against France and Italy.

The All Blacks trained yesterday at Newtown in the first day of a two-day camp in Wellington. They will disband tomorrow and reassemble in Auckland on Sunday to begin training for the test.