Maxwell gets Cup call-up

By WYNNE GRAY at the World Cup

Canterbury lock Norm Maxwell has been summoned to Australia to stand by as a World Cup replacement as the All Black subterfuge about injuries to Ali Williams and Tana Umaga continues.

At the end of another day of information shenanigans, the All Blacks released a small statement to confirm Umaga had ruptured the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and Maxwell's standby status.

There was no revelation about whether Umaga needed surgery, just that his condition would be monitored.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Maxwell bypassed his provincial side's end-of-season party in Christchurch yesterday to board a plane for Melbourne, although he will be staying at a separate venue to the All Blacks.

He cannot join the All Black squad unless he is officially confirmed as a substitute for an injured player, who would then have to leave the tournament group.

However, if Williams, who trained yesterday, does not recover by the time the All Blacks want him to play, Maxwell, a 34-test lock, can join the side quickly. Any replacement has to join a squad 48 hours before he can participate in a match.

England have found themselves with a similar dilemma after injuries to all three of their halfbacks before their massive round-two clash with the Springboks.

Kyran Bracken damaged his back in warmups before the opening game, Matt Dawson twisted his knee and Andy Gomersall hurt his ankle.

To compound the problems of finding a replacement and getting him to Australia on time, another contender, Austin Healey, was injured in weekend club rugby, so fifth choice Martyn Wood was summoned.

If the England medics think all three halfbacks can recover sufficiently, Wood will fly home later this week.

On Saturday, All Black coach John Mitchell suggested Williams had nine days to recover from the stress fracture in his right foot, a hint he had to convince the medical staff he was fit to play against Tonga in round three. If Williams fails that assessment then Maxwell, who played in the last World Cup, can be drafted into action.

Umaga can stay with the side with the outside chance his knee will recover and as a mentor for the young backline.

The All Blacks can afford to carry the centre for some time as they have a surfeit of backline cover for the pool games even with the hamstring strain to Joe Rokocoko.

It was probably thought best to get Maxwell to Australia to train and prepare in local conditions.

It took an embarrassing two days for the All Black management to unveil their plan in a brief statement.

There was no appearance from management again yesterday.

Instead three players, Steve Devine, Caleb Ralph and Marty Holah, were sent with media liaison manager Matt McIlraith to a press conference.

McIlraith began by saying the All Blacks would let the media know about Umaga as soon as there was anything more to know.

Obviously by then Maxwell had been contacted and was probably flying to Melbourne.

The players were left in an invidious position, not knowing what to say when they were questioned about Umaga or indeed Friday's game against Canada as that team had not been selected.

It added to the bad vibes the international media are getting about the way the All Blacks treat the Fourth Estate.

When the players were asked whether Umaga's continued presence in Melbourne would benefit the All Blacks, McIlraith butted in, saying the questioning was covering old ground and it was time to wrap up the conference.

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