Rugby: Wellington boosted by All Blacks trio

Cory Jane is one of three All Blacks available to play for Wellington this week. Photo / Mark Mitchell

All Blacks Rodney So'oialo, Cory Jane and Hosea Gear have opted against taking two-weeks annual leave and have instead made themselves available for Wellington.

They have returned to Wellington training and have been named in the Lions starting line-up for Thursday night's Air New Zealand Cup match against Southland.

Jane says he was always going to play as long as he was not injured. He says he talked to All Blacks assistant Wayne Smith who said it was a personal decision whether he wanted to play or not.

It is a different story within the Auckland and Waikato sides. None of their All Blacks have made themselves available for this weekend's action.

Aled de Malmanche and Brendon Leonard will return for Waikato next week, despite mostly sitting on the bench during the All Blacks season.

Auckland's All Blacks have also opted to take annual leave, despite their side suffering an injury crisis ahead of this weekend's game against Tasman.

First five-eighths Daniel Bowden and prop Paea Fa'anunu have both suffered season-ending injuries.

Coach Mark Anscombe says both Fa'anunu and Bowden will be sidelined for some time. He says Bowden has torn ankle ligaments and Fa'anunu has suffered knee damage.

Anscombe also lost promising winger Dave Thomas for the rest of the season last week.

- NEWSTALK ZB