Nonu in injury scare at training
All Blacks set for selection shake-up
The All Blacks were given an injury scare on Monday, as they stepped up preparations for the second test against Ireland, at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. The All Blacks were made to work hard for their 34-23 win in the first test in Hamilton last Saturday.
Midfield powerhouse Ma'a Nonu sat out training on Monday with a strained knee. However, according to the team's medical staff he is expected to be fit for Saturday's match.
It is expected that coach Graham Henry will make several changes to his team, when he names it on Tuesday, as he tries to find the right combination for what will be another formidable Irish challenge.
The biggest question mark surrounds the selection of his loose forwards, and more particularly the two flanks – where the experiment of playing two opensiders, Marty Holah and Richie McCaw, seem to have failed.
Jerome Kaino is eyeing the No.6 jersey, after making his test debut from the replacement bench in the win over the Irish in Hamilton.
But there could be changes in the midfield as well, even if Nonu is fit. Casey Laulala is looking to get a start in the All Black jersey and could partner Aaron Mauger in midfield.
Meanwhile the All Blacks, as they continue to reflect on their win in the first test against Ireland, feel that they were given all the lessons that usually come with defeat, but not the pain.
Forwards coach Steve Hansen told the New Zealand media that there were certainly some issues they need to work on.
"We were pretty ordinary at line-out time, very good at scrum time," Hansen said.
"We allowed ourselves to be slowed down at the breakdown therefore creating timing issues. We probably played a little too deep in the backline," he said.
