Coaches playing wait-and-see game

Pat Lam

National championship coaches will await word this week on which of their All Blacks are available for third round games this weekend.

The All Black squad of 30 assemble in Christchurch today for 48 hours in preparation for the second half of their Tri-Nations campaign, starting against the Wallabies at Eden Park on August 19.

Assessments will be done on players before confirming who is released and who is withheld from the Air New Zealand Cup.

Auckland coach Pat Lam is relaxed about the outcome of All Black management deliberations.

"I imagine some might be available and that's fine," he said last night.

Some coaches take a view that players who cannot attend training during the week are not considered for the starting XV. Lam's philosophy is whatever is best for his team.

He had 14 All Blacks at his disposal for yesterday's 46-6 demolition of Tasman at Eden Park. Of that number, six are in the current group to travel to Christchurch today - backs Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava and Sam Tuitupou, and forwards Ali Williams and Keven Mealamu.

Lam had to withdraw Rokocoko and Tuitupou from yesterday's match with hamstring niggles but, perhaps because of the strength of his squad, he is at ease with whatever word filters back on availability for Auckland's game at Taranaki on Saturday.

Having had his All Blacks training last week, learning calls and getting involved in squad work has broken the ice in terms of fitting them into the planning.

"We'll just truck on and do our thing," Lam said. "It's not such an issue as they've been with us for the last week so whoever comes back we'll assess it then."

North Harbour coach Allan Pollock believes he will get two of his three All Blacks for their trip to Mt Maunganui to play Bay of Plenty on Saturday. He hopes Luke McAlister and lock Greg Rawlinson are released, but does not expect to have loosehead maestro Tony Woodcock.

"Any time we can have any of them we'd like to make the most of it," he said last night.

Tasman coach Dennis Brown would love to have lock Chris Jack and wing Rico Gear for a must-win match against lowly Manawatu, but doubts he'll have either.

The All Blacks will have a training session tomorrow and return home on Wednesday. Just who are, and are not, released is likely to be revealed then.

Five players were withdrawn from the weekend's games even before the Bledisloe Cup test in Brisbane nine days ago - Canterbury's Leon MacDonald, Dan Carter and captain Richie McCaw, Wellington No 8 Rodney So'oialo and Waikato utility back Mils Muliaina.

Some others opted to rest battered bodies, but not Wellington hardman Jerry Collins or his team-mate, prop Neemia Tialata. Both played against Bay of Plenty on Friday night, then turned out for their clubs less than 24 hours later.