Sivivatu back in All Blacks fold

Sitiveni Sivivatu will travel to South Africa. Jeff Brass / Getty Images

Sitiveni Sivivatu's return to test football took another baby step yesterday with the Waikato wing rejoining the All Blacks squad at the expense of Canterbury's Scott Hamilton.

Sivivatu's reinstatement came as no surprise - least of all to Hamilton who admittedly did no wrong in his two tests this season against Argentina and South Africa.

Hamilton was told last week he would not be involved in the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday or the two-match leg to South Africa.

The New Zealand Rugby Union formalised the change yesterday and Sivivatu took a full part in the All Blacks' first training session since reassembling in Auckland on Sunday.

However, his seventh test appearance is on hold with the All Blacks releasing him to play against Otago at Carisbrook on Saturday.

His training will also be monitored this week after he bruised a shoulder during Waikato's stirring 36-22 win over Canterbury on Friday night.

Sivivatu, who went head to head against Hamilton at Waikato Stadium, scored one try and set up two others despite rating himself below optimum fitness after knee and ankle problems.

"I'm not back to top speed yet, that's something I'm working on now," the 24-year-old said.

The Fijian-born flyer - who played his last test against England at Twickenham last November - was scheduled to play against Argentina in June but his knee problems allowed Hamilton to make his test debut in Buenos Aires, where he scored during a patchy 25-19 victory.

Instead Sivivatu, scorer of eight tries in six tests, returned to the top flight via the Air NZ Cup - touching down against Southland in round two before retiring with an ankle niggle.

He was included in last week's Tri-Nations camp in Christchurch and against Canterbury two days later convinced the All Blacks selectors he was back to his menacing best.

"I'm quite happy to be back in the team. As your career goes on you have ups and downs ... I've had a few, but I'm enjoying being back," he said.

Sivivatu was no guarantee to play in Dunedin but was hopeful the shoulder problem would subside by the end of the week.

His return is the only change to the 30-man Tri-Nations squad for the final three tests though Otago utility Nick Evans will join the team today as cover for Luke McAlister.

The North Harbour playmaker suffered a knock to the jaw when tackling a Bay of Plenty opponent late in Harbour's 25-7 win at Mt Maunganui on Saturday night.

- NZPA