All Blacks scrape bottom of lock stocks barrel

THE ALL BLACKS have been forced to call up the seventh and eighth locks on their pecking order yesterday, after Ali Williams and Keith Robinson joined a growing list of seriously injured middle row forwards.

Williams suffered a broken jaw while Robinson injured a calf muscle when the All Blacks thrashed France 61-10 in a bruising second Test on Saturday.

While there was cause for jubilation in the New Zealand camp with the nature of the nine-try rout, news that neither lock would be able to play in the upcoming Tri-Nations put a dampener on celebrations.

However, the team management remained hopeful both would be back in action for the World Cup and have brought in Junior All Blacks Greg Rawlinson and Ross Filipo as cover.

New Zealand is suffering a shortage of top locks with All Blacks James Ryan and Jason Eaton already out of World Cup planning because of injury, leaving Chris Jack as the only one of the top five locks still playing.

“It’s a huge concern,” coach Graham Henry admitted. “That’s a few locks we’re down this season so there could be challenges ahead.”

When Williams left the field he was replaced by Troy Flavell, recognised as probably the country’s sixth lock and one who can double as flanker. Reuben Thorne adds further cover as a flanker who can play lock.

The injury-prone Robinson suffered his muscle tear during the pre-match warm up, and Williams was floored in a collision with aggressive French loose forward Sebastian Chabal.

Rawlinson and Filipo, who featured prominently in the Junior All Blacks’ 39-13 win over Tonga on Saturday, will join the All Blacks squad in Wellington on Wednesday.

The All Blacks play Canada on Saturday and then travel to Durban for their opening Tri-Nations match against South Africa on June 23.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said the limited rugby this year for Williams and Robinson, who only made a handful of Super 14 appearances, was not a concern.

Scorers for New Zealand: Tries: Oliver, Kelleher, Rokocoko 2, MacDonald, Toeava, Collins, Mealamu, Evans. Cons: McAlister 5. Pens: McAlister 2.

Scorers for France: Tries: J. Laharrague. Cons: Boyet. Pens: Boyet.

NEW ZEALAND: MacDonald, Rokocoko, Toeava, McAlister, Sivivatu, Evans, Kelleher, Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Jack, Williams, Collins, McCaw, So’oialo.

Replacements: Howlett for MacDonald (61), Nonu for Toeava (67), Leonard for Kelleher (49), Tialata for Woodcock (61), Mealamu for Oliver (62), Flavell for Williams (30), Masoe for McCaw (61).

FRANCE: Castaignede, J. Laharrague, Mignardi, Mazars, Coux, Boyet, Durand, Califano, Bruno, Sourgens, Pape, Pierre, Chouly, Magne, Chabal.

Replacements: Ibanez for Mignardi (75), Thierry for Mazars (25), N. Laharrague for Boyet (62), Forest for Durand (67), Mas for Sourgens (59), Olibeau for Pape (32), Ouedraogo for Chabal (55).

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa).