All Blacks call in Donald and Gear for Slade, Muliaina
Editor By Tristan Rayner, 10 Oct 2011 Tristan Rayner is a Roar Editor
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Colin Slade, Hosea Gear, Mils Muliaina, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, Stephen Donald
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The All Blacks have announced that Stephen Donald and Hosea Gear will be called into the squad to cover for the injured Mils Muliaina (shoulder) and Colin Slade (groin).
All Blacks management have confirmed the replacements, with Slade and Muliaina in grave doubt for the final should their teammates win their way through to face either France or Wales.
However, with the Wallabies the first task, the much-maligned Donald is an unlikely proposition coming in from the cold.
Injuries have left New Zealand Rugby Union selectors little choice and the former first five-eight may see some minutes from the bench behind third-string flyhalf Aaron Cruden.
Slade suffered a similar groin injury that prematurely ended Dan Carter’s World Cup, while Muliaina’s 100th test was spoiled by an injury to his left shoulder, forced to leave the field midway through the match.
- Explore:
- All Blacks, Colin Slade, Hosea Gear, Mils Muliaina, Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, Stephen Donald
October 10th 2011 @ 2:01pm
Weka said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
The Stephen Donald Redemption Story has potential to be one of the best sports has ever seen. It’s going to be glorious.
October 10th 2011 @ 6:54pm
johnny-boy said | October 10th 2011 @ 6:54pm | Report comment
You’re in the comedy section Weka. Horror movies are next aisle along
October 10th 2011 @ 2:04pm
Frank O'Keeffe said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
This is the best news I’ve heard all week. Stephen Donald playing for the All Blacks. Are there six better words put together in the rugby world?
Let Quade Cooper and Stephen Donald play and watch the hilarity.
Maybe that’s harsh on Quade. He does good things from time to time, but he looks nervy and uncertain this World Cup.
October 10th 2011 @ 2:06pm
Weka said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Even the Duck doesn’t have the potential to be as bad as QC was yesterday.
October 10th 2011 @ 4:35pm
johnny-boy said | October 10th 2011 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
Oh yes he does ……
October 10th 2011 @ 4:08pm
Chuck said | October 10th 2011 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
Duck is in the squad I would be very surprised if he actually gets any game time.
Aaron or Piri will start at ten the other playing back up. Donald will only likely come into the equation if AC or PW are injured
October 10th 2011 @ 2:11pm
ohtani's jacket said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
Stephen Donald has a 6-1 record against the Wallabies. Fear the Duck.
October 10th 2011 @ 2:14pm
Jerry said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
Also, Duck & Cruden have 100% records starting against the Wallabies. Basically, the Wallabies are screwed now.
October 10th 2011 @ 2:15pm
ohtani's jacket said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
Old Lordy’s gonna be working overtime on the statistics this week.
October 10th 2011 @ 4:37pm
johnny-boy said | October 10th 2011 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
It’s true it’s true we are no chance ! Lovin it.
October 10th 2011 @ 4:35pm
johnny-boy said | October 10th 2011 @ 4:35pm | Report comment
Fear the Duck – now that is gold !
October 10th 2011 @ 2:15pm
Jerry said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
But it’s about time a Gear brother made a WC squad.
October 10th 2011 @ 2:20pm
2many1ndians said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Why Gear?
I can understand he’s a great player and was surprised he didn’t make the squad originally, but aren’t our wing stocks ok?
October 10th 2011 @ 2:25pm
Jerry said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
Well, they’ve got Jane & Dagg to cover fullback and it’s not as if there’s much in the way of other options.
October 10th 2011 @ 4:09pm
Chuck said | October 10th 2011 @ 4:09pm | Report comment
As Jerry said we have more than ample FB cover and Hosea being a specialist wing it made sense.
October 10th 2011 @ 2:20pm
Sprigs said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Even before the game, there was talk from a NZ newsroom (as posted last week on the Roar by yours truly) that Mr Slade had a groin injury.
I wonder if they thought he could play through it.
October 10th 2011 @ 4:32pm
Pierce said | October 10th 2011 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
Well done Sprigs. You certainly know your groins.
October 10th 2011 @ 6:25pm
Seiran said | October 10th 2011 @ 6:25pm | Report comment
LOL, Classic!
October 10th 2011 @ 2:21pm
Nathaniel said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Donald will obviously only be in the 22 in the most desperate of situation. Otherwise I see Weepu taking over the 5/8 role as back up for Cruden.
As for next Sunday, the Wallabies had better wake up cos its not going to get any easier. I’d infact leave QC out and get BB in.
October 10th 2011 @ 2:30pm
Frank O'Keeffe said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
Bring Donald on in the last 20 minutes when the All Blacks have the game well and truly won, and see what happens?
Man if Donald does that again the reputation of New Zealand for choking at World Cups will increase tenfold. It will be press stories without end. It will be legendary. LEGEN-I HOPE YOU’RE NOT LACTOSE INTOLERANT-DAIRY!
Donald must play. Frank wills it and it shall be so.
Bring forth he who waddles when he kicks. Bring forth he who misses penalties that would seal games off. Bring forth he who rivals the All Blacks 10′s of 1994.
Seriously guys, I’m hyper, I thought there was no way Australia could beat New Zealand. It’s like that movie, Apollo 13, where they have no clue how they can bring those men back to earth when everything is going wrong. But something lucky happens and they devise a way to succeed.
It just goes to show, you give people a tiny chance of winning and they’ll take it.
I want all the Wallabies practicing shooting womp-rats in their T-16s back home all week… they need to exploit this weakness.
October 10th 2011 @ 2:45pm
Nick Cross said | October 10th 2011 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
Geez you need to up your dose Frank.
I’m pretty happy with Cruden. I’ve never been a Donald fan, but I couldn’t come up with another 10 to call in if Slade were ruled out so you’ve gotta do what you must.
Gear is a good replacement.
Donald will only get on if there is an injury to our 10. And that hardly ever happens. Oh wait…
October 10th 2011 @ 3:28pm
Rob W said | October 10th 2011 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Slade seemed overawed by the situation where Cruden seemed a little more composed.Well the proof will be at Eden Park this weekend..
October 10th 2011 @ 4:44pm
the other Steve - and AB fan said | October 10th 2011 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
And if the back-up half back is also injured so forcing Weepu out of 10, and back to half-back, so the Duck goes to 10.
And I would think about bringing him on even then, because a lot of the AB’s seem to act as half-back if the situation calls for it. Mind, you the box kicking would be out.
October 10th 2011 @ 3:20pm
Vhavnal said | October 10th 2011 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Why Gear and not sivivatu?