Muliania doubt for All Blacks

New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina is a doubt for Saturday’s first Test against England after straining a hamstring in training.

Muliaina will be restricted to light training duties today and the All Black medics will make a final decision on his availability to start at Eden Park on Friday.

As a precaution, New Zealand have called uncapped Highlanders full-back Paul Williams – son of former All Black Bryan Williams – into the training squad.

Muliaina suffered hamstring problems at the 2007 World Cup and again throughout the Super 14 season.

However, All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith said: “We took Mils out of training yesterday. He was getting a bit tight but I don’t perceive there will be too many problems.”

New Zealand are not only attempting to beat England this Saturday but also earn the backing of many fans who were left disgruntled by the All Blacks’ World Cup failure and the subsequent reappointment of Graham Henry as head coach.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew admitted this week the All Blacks need to redouble their efforts to win back the “hearts and minds” of the fans.

New Zealand were beaten in the World Cup quarter-final by France, their worst ever performance.

But All Blacks lock Ali Williams believes the anti-Henry sentiment has got out of hand.

“It gets to me how much you can attack one man,” Williams said.

“I’m sure if he was 30 or 40 years younger he would have loved to have been out there trying to do it himself. But the fact is he can’t. You have to look at some of the ownership that has got to fall on us too as players, we didn’t score the points.

“You have freedom of speech, I have no problem with that and everyone can say what they want to say but the guy (Henry) got the job. Either support rugby or don’t support rugby and if you support it, well get behind us (the All Blacks).”