Gear recalled by All Blacks

Chiefs hooker Hikawera Elliot and Highlanders wing Hosea Gear have been named as replacement players to attend the All Blacks wider training group camp in Wellington.

The second of the All Blacks camps are being held from Sunday to Tuesday.

Elliot comes in for Blues hooker Keven Mealamu, who is carrying a calf injury, while Gear replaces Hurricanes wing Cory Jane who has a high ankle sprain.

All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen said: "We already have two utilities in the wider training squad in Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison, who can also cover fullback, so the selectors have decided that we need to have a specialist wing in the mix so Hosea Gear gets that opportunity.

"As for Keven, he has been struggling with a calf injury for some time now. He had a second scan before he came into the All Blacks camp last week that revealed he has suffered a second strain in the same calf. It's in a different part of the same calf so we are taking a prudent approach with him."

Mealamu will still attend the Wellington camp and Hansen said it was hoped that he would recover in time to take part in the series Tests against Ireland.

The All Blacks 30-man squad for the three-Test June series will be named in Auckland next Sunday, June 3.