Holah just insurance for McCaw, says Henry

ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry has insisted his Test series linchpin Richie McCaw is not in danger of missing this Saturday’s first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Christchurch.

Henry said yesterday that his decision to call flanker Marty Holah into the New Zealand camp as cover was merely a precaution while McCaw, one of the All Blacks’ main weapons against the Lions this summer, attempts to get over a minor back strain.

Holah was a surprise omission from the All Blacks’ 26-man squad ten days ago, when assistant coach Steve Hansen said no specialist cover was needed for McCaw as they expected their main man to play every minute of every Test against the Lions.