All Blacks cover bases for return Tri-Nations clash with Wallabies

AUCKLAND – All Blacks coach Graham Henry unveiled a reshuffled forward pack and arranged cover for his stuttering inside backs Wednesday in preparation for the Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Henry was covering all his bases heading into the Test, knowing a win and a bonus point would be enough to secure the Tri-Nations series for New Zealand with a game to play. There are three changes in the forwards, with lock Ali Williams making the starting line-up for the first time this year, blindside flanker Jono Gibbes returning from injury and Carl Hayman recalled as tighthead prop.With the exception of Williams, Henry has reverted to the pack that dominated Australia in the 16-7 Bledisloe Cup win in the Wellington rain last month.Forward Simon Maling is the only casualty from that win, with Williams, who was brought in as cover for the injured Keith Robinson this week, gaining his place in the second row on the strength of a 20-minute run in the second half of the All Blacks’ 23-21 last-gasp win over South Africa 10 days ago.”Simon Maling played very well against Australia in Wellington and did a good job for us,” Henry said.”Just on the game last week (against South Africa), we thought the other fellow (Williams) offered a wee bit more.”Maling retains his place in the squad, being bracketed with loose forward Mose Tuiali’i on the bench as cover for fellow lock Chris Jack, who is recovering from a stomach illness.Gibbes returns from a back injury after missing the Test against the Springboks last Saturday, when Jerry Collins was his replacement.Mose Tuiali’i pipped Collins for the bench spot on the strength of his performance in a provincial game last weekend.Hayman’s re-selection over Greg Somerville, who was called up to match South African giant Os du Randt in the Springbok Test, was a tactical move, Henry said.”We picked Greg in the last game because we wanted to play a certain type of scrummaging, and the reverse for the Australians.”While the All Black forwards have ensured territorial domination in the first two Tri-Nations Tests, the backs have been largely ineffective despite an abundance of possession.- Nampa-AFPThere are three changes in the forwards, with lock Ali Williams making the starting line-up for the first time this year, blindside flanker Jono Gibbes returning from injury and Carl Hayman recalled as tighthead prop.With the exception of Williams, Henry has reverted to the pack that dominated Australia in the 16-7 Bledisloe Cup win in the Wellington rain last month.Forward Simon Maling is the only casualty from that win, with Williams, who was brought in as cover for the injured Keith Robinson this week, gaining his place in the second row on the strength of a 20-minute run in the second half of the All Blacks’ 23-21 last-gasp win over South Africa 10 days ago.”Simon Maling played very well against Australia in Wellington and did a good job for us,” Henry said.”Just on the game last week (against South Africa), we thought the other fellow (Williams) offered a wee bit more.”Maling retains his place in the squad, being bracketed with loose forward Mose Tuiali’i on the bench as cover for fellow lock Chris Jack, who is recovering from a stomach illness.Gibbes returns from a back injury after missing the Test against the Springboks last Saturday, when Jerry Collins was his replacement.Mose Tuiali’i pipped Collins for the bench spot on the strength of his performance in a provincial game last weekend.Hayman’s re-selection over Greg Somerville, who was called up to match South African giant Os du Randt in the Springbok Test, was a tactical move, Henry said.”We picked Greg in the last game because we wanted to play a certain type of scrummaging, and the reverse for the Australians.”While the All Black forwards have ensured territorial domination in the first two Tri-Nations Tests, the backs have been largely ineffective despite an abundance of possession.- Nampa-AFP