All Blacks’ locking stocks are Jacked up

NEW Zealand coach John Mitchell received some good news about his locking stocks, as Chris Jack moved closer to full fitness.

Mitchell had to cope with a pre-tournament injury to Jack's second row partner Ali Williams which only cleared up fully after the team arrived in Australia - and when Jack went over on his ankle during training last week, disaster seemed to have struck.

But Jack told a press conference that the injury, which prevented him playing against Tonga on Saturday, would not stop him taking part in the rest of the tournament.

"I'm pretty hopeful about this weekend," Jack said, targeting the All Blacks' final pool match against Wales in Sydney on November 2.

"Either way, I'll be playing in the next two weeks, hopefully," he said.

That means he should be fit to play in a likely quarter-final clash with old foes South Africa, in Melbourne on November 8.

Apart from Williams' problem, Mitchell has been without Norm Maxwell for the best part of two seasons because of injuries.

The Cantabrian recovered too late to make the World Cup squad, but was put on standby when Williams was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot.

Back line fitness problems have also hung about the All Blacks with a worrying persistence, not least concerning Aaron Mauger.

The Canterbury utility back has been in and out of the treatment room because of a groin strain, but team manager Tony Thorpe said the injury was not expected to prevent him playing against Wales.

Thorpe also said centre Tana Umaga, whose tournament seemed to be over after he suffered a cruciate knee injury against Italy on October 11, was expected to be back in action within a week.

Ben Atiga was delighted to make his All Blacks debut against Tonga, after being called into the squad to replace the injured Ben Blair.

Atiga's mother is of Tongan descent, adding extra poignancy to the moment when the 20-year-old Auckland full-back ran onto the field in the 76th minute, in place of provincial team-mate Mils Muliaina.

"I'm very proud to have played them on my debut," he said.

Meanwhile, former All Black winger Grant Batty has praised the All Blacks' attacking style, but also labelled them one-dimensional.

Batty played 17 Tests for New Zealand in the mid-1970s, and has since become a well-regarded coach in Australia, and after watching the 91-7 destruction of Tonga he was impressed but cautious.

"I think they are capable of winning it, but whether they will is another matter," Batty told the Sunday Star-Times newspaper, suggesting that the brilliant back three of Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, and Doug Howlett were the key to success or failure.

"I think the All Blacks are almost too one dimensional. That is, get the ball to the backs, get it wide and let Rokocoko, Mils and Howlett do something special," he said.

"At the end of the day that style can be defended. If they were to mix it up more, have more efficient rolling mauls, not go to ground every time they come into contact, I think they'd be a more difficult team to beat.

"Even if the opposition know what you're going to do, they still have to be capable of stopping you. If you have a lot of potential creation in your game it's harder again.

"I don't think their rolling maul is as effective as it should be. It would be 50% of the quality of the English rolling maul."