MacDonald scare for All Blacks

2008-06-20 11:08

Christchurch - Fullback Leon MacDonald sent an injury scare through the All Blacks squad after colliding with lock Ali Williams at training, but will still play against England, coach Graham Henry said on Friday.

MacDonald, who was on the bench for the previous two Tests, collided with his Crusaders team mate at training on Wednesday and Henry initially thought he would not play in Saturday's game at Lancaster Park.

"It did not look too good when it happened, I thought he was out of the Test match quite frankly," Henry told reporters before he revealed the two had collided three other times at training this season. "It seems to be a pretty regular occurrence.

"They're keeping a bit of a tally on that," he joked. "Leon's trying to avoid Ali at training.

"They ran into each other at pace, both claiming the other person was in the wrong position.

"But (MacDonald) bounced back, everybody's fine."

While the All Blacks had made just one forced change, through injury, between the sides that beat Ireland 21-11 in Wellington and England 37-20 in Auckland, they have made four changes for this match.

Blindside flanker

Centre Richard Kahui and wing Rudi Wulf will make their debuts, replacing Conrad Smith and Anthony Tuitavake respectively.

MacDonald has replaced Mils Muliaina and blindside flanker Adam Thomson has come in for Jerome Kaino.

The decision has caused consternation with local media, fearing a return to the controversial rotation policy that was criticised in the lead up to, and during, last year's World Cup.

Henry, however, said they needed to build for the Tri-nations matches against South Africa and Australia and beyond.

"We could have (made no changes) and that would have been, in the short term, probably the easiest thing to do," he said.

"But in the long term I don't think that would have ticked all the boxes for us.

Wholesale changes

"Some players needed to play to make sure, when they get the opportunity in the Tri-Nations, that they are ready."

England also made wholesale changes with five in the backline and one in the pack.

Caretaker coach Rob Andrew, however, dismissed suggestions his side had been chosen solely to shore-up the defence after several lapses allowed Ma'a Nonu and Daniel Carter to create havoc last week.

He insisted there were attacking options in his backline.

"It has been set up to go out and try and challenge New Zealand and try win the game," Andrew told a news conference.

"If we can provide sufficient quality balls to our back three, there is a lot of pace there with running ability and a lot of threat.

"But we have to find ways of getting (the ball) and getting into space, which is easier said than done...we think we can do that."

- Reuters