All Blacks: So'oialo gets a second chance

All Black game breaker Ma'a Nonu makes friends with the locals after a training session yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

TOKYO - Having rediscovered his mojo in provincial rugby, a refreshed Rodney So'oialo was yesterday handed a golden ticket to try to reclaim his status as the All Blacks' premier No 8.

The 60-test veteran loose forward's naming was the main talking point as one of just three changes to the All Blacks for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies in Tokyo.

The others were predictable returns from injury, with centre Conrad Smith (hamstring) back for Isaia Toeava and winger Sitiveni Sivivatu (groin) replacing Joe Rokocoko from the All Blacks' 33-6 hammering of the Wallabies in Wellington on September 19.

Coach Graham Henry said incumbent Kieran Read - who started the past three tests at No 8 - was still lacking match fitness, after missing the Air NZ Cup through injury, but Saturday was nonetheless a big chance for So'oialo to show he wasn't a spent force.

"We'll find out on this tour. He's played well for Wellington between the Tri-Nations and this tour, but, really, there's a big step between Air NZ Cup and international standard," Henry said.

"He's led from the front for the All Blacks for a long time. He brings a unique physicality at the tackle and the breakdown. He plays fully for 80 minutes so his work ethic is huge.

"He hasn't played a lot of test match rugby in recent times, starting games, so I'm sure he'll be on edge and show that he's the man."

So'oialo, who captained the All Blacks four times last year, has had his most inactive season in the black jersey since 2004.

Troubled by a neck/shoulder injury which forced him out of the June tests, So'oialo started the first three Tri-Nations tests but was then overtaken by Read whose lineout prowess saw him claim the No 8 jersey as his own.

In Henry's first test as forwards coach after the reshuffle, it will place more emphasis on one-test lock Tom Donnelly and flanker Adam Thomson as the main ballwinners on Saturday.

So'oialo said he was fatigued and didn't enjoy his rugby after the Super 14 and throughout the Tri-Nations, until his recent stint for Wellington.

"It helped me to get excited again. The love for the game nearly went away, but going back to NPC and realising what the black jersey really means to me, it opened up my eyes," he said.

"It was the mental side of it more than the physical. I felt that being away from it in the home series, I really enjoyed my time with my two girls and my wife and I really wanted to be with them more than playing.

"Now I'm just wanting to get out there and really excited to get this opportunity."

Henry said the relatively unchanged selection was a "pat on the back" for those who played in the dominant performance in Wellington, their sixth consecutive win over the Wallabies.

He said the challenge was there for the likes of Donnelly to back up one solid performance with another.

After a slow start to the week where the players had taken time to adjust to their new surroundings, Henry said the value of Saturday's game was high from the European tour point of view.

"It's very important for the tour for both teams. If you can get some momentum that's good for going on."

Tokyo, 9.30pm Saturday

ALL BLACKS
Mils Muliaina
Cory Jane
Conrad Smith
Ma'a Nonu
Sitivenu Sivivatu
Daniel Carter
Jimmy Cowan
Rodney So'oialo
Richie McCaw (c)
Adam Thomson
Tom Donnelly
Brad Thorn
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore
Tony Woodcock

AUSTRALIA
A. Ashley-Cooper
Peter Hynes
Ryan Cross
Berrick Barnes
Digby Ioane
Matt Giteau
Will Genia
Wycliff Palu
David Pocock
Rocky Elsom (c)
Mark Chisholm
James Horwill
Ben Alexander
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Benn Robinson

All Blacks: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Kieran Read, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Tamati Ellison.

Australia: Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Luke Burgess, Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor.

- NZPA