Rugby: Jaw injury removes McAlister from All Blacks mix

Luke McAlister is out for the rest of the season after fracturing his jaw playing for North Harbour. Photo / Greg Bowker

The All Blacks midfield selection puzzle has eased a shade with Luke McAlister joining the list of contenders whose season has finished.

McAlister has fractured his jaw and is with Richard Kahui on the unavailable roster as the All Black selectors sift through their remaining second five-eighths choices to take on the five test end of year trip.

Ma'a Nonu is the test incumbent and on gardening leave until the All Blacks resume against the Wallabies in Hong Kong on October 30.

His backup will come from a group including Benson Stanley who played three tests this winter, Isaia Toeava who returns to the Auckland bench this week after months out with a hip injury, and the Canterbury duo of Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty.

Williams has made a strong impression since he began playing for Canterbury and if he stays fit, the All Black selectors are very keen to get him into their squad so they can give him some intensive tuition and matchplay on the end of year tour.

The test panel see the tour as stage one of their plans for next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

So they are desperate for some of the long-term injured like Toeava, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Andrew Hore to pass fitness tests for the trip while they are also known to be very enthused about Williams' promise.

They are also hopeful experienced lock Ali Williams will be cleared to play some rugby in Europe, after overcoming his second Achilles tendon surgery, while the All Blacks are attempting their Grand Slam target.

The 27-year-old McAlister damaged his jaw playing for North Harbour last week against Manawatu in the ITM Cup but subsequent x-rays cleared him of any damage.

He played against Counties Manukau but had another heavy facial hit and subsequent scans have revealed he has two fractures in his jaw.

"Obviously I'm gutted with the injury," McAlister said. "It's not the best timing. I've had a pretty good run of games up until now and was getting myself back to where I wanted to be. I've had a few setbacks in my time so I'm pretty good at dealing with these kinds of situations. My focus now is to let it settle down and heal up, then gear up for Super Rugby pre-season and a big year in 2011."

McAlister has played 30 tests but injury and form meant he missed selection in the June and Tri-Nations squads. He was called in on standby for the test against Wales in Hamilton and was in the mix for the end of year squad.

Harbour have also lost fellow midfielder Brendan Watt with an ankle injury for their next game against Wellington at Albany on Sunday.

Centre Jack Tarrant needs a clearance after a heavy head knock against Counties while fullback Jack McPhee has to convince the selectors he has recovered from a similar problem.

Prop and captain Michael Reid will not play again this season after succumbing to a persistent toe injury and hulking No 8 Matt Luamanu is battling to overcome a hamstring strain.