All Blacks plan without struggling trio for Ireland clash

NEW ZEALAND are almost certain to be without three of their first-choice players for the one-off Test against Ireland next week, assistant coach Wayne Smith has said.

Full back Mils Muliaina, centre Richard Kahui and lock Tom Donnelly have been struggling to recover from injury in time for the June 12 Test in New Plymouth.

“I wouldn’t pick any of them personally,” Smith told reporters at the All Blacks’ training camp in Auckland.

All three were named in the 26-man squad on Sunday but uncertainty over their fitness saw outside backs Ben Smith and Rene Ranger and lock Sam Whitelock joining the squad as cover.

Their likely exclusion means full-back Cory Jane, inside centre Benson Stanley and lock Anthony Boric are likely to take their place in the starting lineup. Smith said Muliaina’s calf injury was progressing but he needs to play some club rugby before returning to the All Blacks. He strained his calf in his first match back after a two-month absence with a broken thumb.

Smith is looking forward to the battle between Stanley and Richard Kahui for the inside centre spot with Ma’a Nonu set to miss the game.

Nonu damaged knee ligaments playing for the Hurricanes against the Waratahs in the Super 14 and has been ruled out of the clashes against Ireland (June 12) and Wales (June 19 and 26).

Smith says both Stanley and Kahui will be given an opportunity to show they can fill the void.

“I think it will be good for us,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of stable characters there. Benson’s mature, he’s played well at Super 14 level so I’ll be interested to see how he goes in the Test series and then you’ve got Richard Kahui who is progressing well.”

Smith is interested in the prospects of Kahui, who has played at outside centre and on the wing, being tried at inside centre.

“He’s got the skill set, he’s a good kicker of the ball, he’s a very square passer by which I mean he can pass off a really straight line, probably the best in the country at that,” he added.

“He’s physical and he runs good, angled lines in attack. I think it will take a bit of time because you are closer to the opposition than you are at centre but I think he will be an interesting proposition there.”

Smith has been impressed with the changes Declan Kidney has brought to their game.

He added: “They played a fluent game, had a lot of offloads and have really changed their attacking mindset so I think we’ve got to go in with an expectation they will look to move the ball, look to get a couple of touches after they’ve passed the ball and try and get some real attacking continuity.”