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Coach Graham Henry admits Ma’a Nonu’s replacement remains unresolved as the All Blacks selectors meet to finalise their 26-man squad for rugby Tests against Ireland and Wales.
Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith are scheduled to meet on Wednesday and Friday with senior players, before Sunday’s announcement of the squad to face Ireland on June 12 and Wales on June 19 and 26.
Nonu is out for the June Tests due to a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament, suffered in the Hurricanes’ final Super 14 match against the Waratahs.
He doesn’t require surgery and on the initial diagnosis could return to full training in time for the All Blacks’ Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Auckland on July 10.
With leading candidate Isaia Toeava facing six months on the sidelines due to hip surgery, contenders appear to be narrowed down to the Chiefs pair Stephen Donald and Richard Kahui, Blues pair Luke McAlister and Benson Stanley and the Crusaders’ Ryan Crotty.
“We’re still resolving the unresolved issue, believe it or not,” Henry told reporters on Tuesday.
“We’ve got a number of options and we’ll be talking about those on Wednesday. We’re a fair way down the track but we haven’t resolved it yet.”
Henry said a pairing of Daniel Carter and Donald was one of the options being explored. Donald spent time at inside centre for the Chiefs this year before missing the latter part of the Super 14 with a calf strain.
Kahui wasn’t at his best this season and is primarily a No.13, Stanley was solid for the Blues at No.12 while last year’s All Blacks tourist McAlister had minimal game time in the Super 14 and struggled with injury and form.
“We’ve just got to pick a guy we think can handle the demands,” Henry said.
“Some (contenders) haven’t had experience of international rugby, and some have. What we’ve got to do is get somebody we know will do the business for us, rather than think maybe he could be a superstar, but he could embarrass himself too.”
The selectors have had to rethink their squad due to recent injuries to Nonu, Toeava and first-choice hooker Andrew Hore who is likely to be out for the year due to a dislocated shoulder.
But Henry said other injured contenders Kahui (sternum), hooker Aled de Malmanche (thumb) and prop Tony Woodcock (ankle) were all likely to be available.
Others ruled out are wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder) and Lelia Masaga (knee), five-eighth Mike Delany (shoulder) and locks Ali Williams (achilles tendon) and Jason Eaton (knee).
Fullback Mils Muliaina (broken thumb) is eyeing a return to club rugby this weekend to prove his fitness, while lock Tom Donnelly (ankle) is out of contention as he targets a comeback for Central Otago against South Otago on June 7.
“We’ve selected (the squad) a few times now,” Henry said.
“It’s been a little bit challenging, and we still haven’t finalised it.”
“We thought we had it finalised a week ago, then we had three or four injuries over recent times, and that may change the forward-backs mix a wee bit.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.