Gear shifts All Black focus to Wellington

Hosea Gear is looking forward to getting some game time with the Wellington Lions after a frustrating few weeks on the sidelines with New Zealand.

The winger was named in Graham Henry’s 30-man squad for the Tri-Nations series after a strong campaign with the Junior All Blacks in the Pacific Nations Cup.

But he missed out on selection for the Test against Australia and was one of two players left behind when New Zealand flew to South Africa for their Tests against the Springboks in Bloemfontein and Durban.

The 25-year-old admits it has been a bit tough being on the sidelines.

“Most of the time I was just holding the hit shield at (All Blacks) training so I was really keen for a bit of game time,” he said.

“As soon as it was announced I was to stay home I was just really looking forward to joining the Lions and getting to know the boys, playing alongside them and getting a bit of game time.”

Gear was a late inclusion in the Lions’ starting XV for their warm-up game against Canterbury last Friday and is unsure just how long he will be available to coach Jamie Joseph.

“While the All Blacks are away I’m going to be with the Lions full-time,” he continued.

“When the All Blacks get back I’ll join them in camp and ... if I’m not selected for the All Blacks I’ll join the Lions again.”

It is a tough situation for all concerned.

Gear faces the prospect of switching in and out of different game plans, calls, defensive and attacking patterns, not to mention the jump in standard between provincial Air New Zealand Cup and Test match standard.

“It’s just something you have to try and switch on to,” he explained.

“Once you’ve found out if you’re in the All Blacks squad to play or not then it’s definitely a switch of mindset.”

Gear also feels some sympathy for Joseph and his fellow Lions team-mates for the disruption it causes them.

“It gets quite annoying and frustrating for the Lions coaches as well. It’s not really fair on some of the other players either. It’s definitely tough times.”

How much game time Gear gets with the All Blacks depends on whether coach Henry continues to use Lions full-back Cory Jane on the wing.

Under the ELVs, where the kick-chase game has become more prevalent, Henry and backs coach Wayne Smith have made no secret of the fact they want their wings to have a strong kicking game and strength under the high ball not just pace and good finishing skills.

Against the Wallabies Jane was preferred to Gear and the other more traditional wing Joe Rokocoko, although Rokocoko, who has been lacking form, was given a chance against the Springboks in Bloemfontein yesterday.

“The game is sort of changing these days and you’ve got to be quite versatile in your skills,” admitted Gear.

“I see myself as an out and out winger, not so much a full-back, so I’m probably going to do the best I can to be an out and out winger and try and work on the full-back skills.

“There’s a lot more kicking involved these days. The ELVs have made the game a bit more exciting and speeds it up a bit more. But the downside is that you don’t get to see a lot of wingers beating wingers round the outside.”

Gear will be in the selection mix for Wellington’s opening game of the Air New Zealand Cup season against Otago on Friday, which also doubles as a Ranfurly Shield defence.

“That was one of the highlights when I was looking to come back was defending the shield,” said Gear who was part of the team that brought the historic Log ’o’ Wood back to Wellington for the first time in 26 years last year following victory over Auckland.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”