Brooke's input will pay dividends, says Hore

Robin Brooke's fleeting involvement with the All Blacks has officially ended with reserve hooker Andrew Hore confident the veteran lock's insight will help solve New Zealand rugby's achilles heel, the lineout.

Brooke spent 1-1/2 days at a Tri-Nations camp in Christchurch last week adding his input to a glaring blemish marring the All Blacks' so far unbeaten roll through the 2006 international calendar.

Forwards coach Steve Hansen oversaw the first vigorous lineout workout since the 30-man squad assembled here on Sunday, the session absorbing an hour -- and leaving Hore's provincial teammate Jason Eaton with a bruised and bloody left eye.

Chris Jack was the culprit -- accidentally elbowing his prospective second row partner over the eye as they soared for a feed by Keven Mealamu.

"That's just Jacko -- he normally takes one of two people out a week," Hore said as Eaton received some minor treatment from the team's medical staff.

While Hore was happy to point the finger at Jack, he was not quite so illuminating about Brooke's role but was confident a brainstorming session with the 62-test veteran would pay off.

"He's come in with some new ideas -- he's an outsider looking in," Hore said, adding, "we've got a couple of new things we're working on there.

"Hopefully they come right on Saturday -- we've got a few more days to sort it out."

The All Blacks two-hour long training session today started with a couple of lineout formations before the squad split -- the pack briefly honing scrummaging technique before concentrating on the troublesome set piece.

The backs also had a lively hit out as Sitiveni Sivivatu was officially welcomed back to the fold at the expense of Canterbury's Scott Hamilton.

The Waikato flyer was involved in the camp last week and was yesterday added to the touring party to South Africa where he is likely to see action against the Springboks in Pretoria or Rustenberg -- fitness permitting.

Sivivatu bruised a shoulder during the Mooloos' 36-22 defeat of Canterbury on Friday and is no certainty to turn out for Waikato in Dunedin on Saturday.

The shoulder niggle aside, Sivivatu is also still doing rehab on a knee injury that marred his progress during last year's Tri-Nations trip to South Africa -- and the early part of the current test programme.

Although Sivivatu is out of the calculation short term, the backline appears ripe for another reshuffle with Isaia Toeava looking poised for another crack at the centre berth he auditioned for in Buenos Aires during the one-off test with the Pumas in June.

Toeava also played the closing minutes of the Bledisloe Cup in Christchurch last month, nailing the bonus-point try after coming on as a replacement and he could find himself starting before his home crowd.

Should Toeava slot in, Mils Muliaina, the first choice fullback last season, is likely to revert to his customary position while Leon MacDonald rotates to the bench.

Toeava has played in both midfield slots for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup and provincial captain Sam Tuitupou had no doubt his quietly spoken sidekick would be up to a tussle with Wallabies veteran Stirling Mortlock.

"Isaia's picked up a lot of confidence and playing outside Azza (Aaron Mauger) will help him -- he's well experienced.

"Ice (Toeava) is slowly coming up. Three of four months ago he was really quiet and didn't really speak to anyone. Now he's slowly coming out of his shell and laughing a lot.

"He knows his role and if he goes into the game with confidence he'll do well."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry was to name his 22-man playing squad at 1.30pm today after the team again trained in west Auckland.

Otago's Nick Evans was expected to turn out as precautionary cover for Luke McAlister, who received a knock to the jaw he broke during the Super 14 when playing against Bay of Plenty on Saturday night.

Southland halfback Jimmy Cowan was an observer yesterday as he rested an ankle sprain though encouragingly Piri Weepu played a full part, seemingly over a knee injury suffered against the Springboks in the test at Wellington.

- NZPA