New-look New Zealand take on Fiji in Lions warm-up

WINGER Sitivei Sivivatu, hooker Derren Witcombe and lock James Ryan will make their test debuts for New Zealand against Fiji on Friday after the trio were confirmed as starters in a new-look All Blacks side.

Sivivatu, who scored two tries in the Possibles victory over the Probables in the All Blacks trial last Friday, replaces his cousin Joe Rokocoko on the left wing for the one-off test.

Rokocoko had a poor Super 12 season and was released by the All Blacks selectors to play for the New Zealand Sevens side to try to regain the confidence and form that have brought him 27 tries in 23 internationals.

However, he remains in contention for a recall to the squad for the test series, New Zealand coach Graham Henry insisted.

“Joe is under consideration,” Henry explained.

“He has been exceptional in the test matches he has played but we thought he lacked a bit of confidence in the Super 12 and we wanted to give him the opportunity to regain that.”

Rokocoko faces competition from Rico Gear, who is on New Zealand Maori duty and was unavailable for the Fiji test, and Wellington utility Ma’a Nonu, as well as test incumbents Sivivatu and Doug Howlett.

Gear, who scored 15 tries, and Nonu, who can also play in the centre, were outstanding during the Super 12, forcing Henry to decide who to leave out.

“One of the strengths of New Zealand rugby is we have five wingers we are looking at,” said Henry.

“There is a bit of pressure because there is a lot of competition in the wing position but that won’t do any harm because they respond to pressure.”

Hooker Witcombe is something of a surprise selection for Friday but could lose his place for the three-test series if former captain Anton Oliver recovers from a torn calf muscle.

Otago lock Ryan was also an unexpected choice, though he had impressed Henry during the Super 12 season and at the trial.

“We have a number of players we wanted to look at and so there are three new caps,” Henry said.

“We do have a lack of depth at lock, we have been saying that for a couple of months now. There are some young guys coming through, showing potential but not experience, so we want to get a measure of him (Ryan) at international level.”

Two other players, full-back Sosene Anesi and prop Campbell Johnstone, are in line to make their international debuts off the bench at Albany’s North Harbour Stadium on Friday. Henry said that players like hooker Keven Mealamu, lock Chris Jack and scrum-half Justin Marshall had already been proven at international level, hence their drop to the bench.

Wellington Hurricanes centre/ wing Nonu was not considered from the original 23-man squad due to a persistent shoulder injury and full-back Mils Muliaina was also overlooked after withdrawing from last Friday’s trial with a similar complaint.

Several leading players, such as Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Jono Gibbes and Carl Hayman, were not considered because of their selection in the New Zealand Maoris.

The Fiji match is New Zealand’s only warm-up game before the three-test series against the Lions. Fiji lost 29-27 to New Zealand Maori in Suva last Friday.

NEW ZEALAND: M. Muliaina; D. Howlett, T. Umaga (capt), A. Mauger, S. Sivivatu; D. Carter, B. Kelleher; R. So’oialo, R. McCaw, J. Collins, A. Williams, J. Ryan; G. Somerville, D. Witcombe, T. Woodcock.

Replacements: K. Mealamu, C. Johnstone, C. Jack, M. Tuiali’i, J. Marshall, C. Smith, S. Anesi.