Toeava lay-off boosts Ellison chances

Tamati Ellison’s chances of making the New Zealand squad for the upcoming end of year tour have been given a big boost following Isaia Toeava’s latest stress fracture injury.

Ellison was brought into the All Blacks training camp during the Tri-Nations as injury cover for Toeava as he recovered from a foot stress fracture. But the Wellington utility back then suffered an untimely calf injury himself when he was poised for his first cap.

Instead it was a fully-healed Toeava who got the nod then and played so well he seemed a certainty to make the trip to Japan and Europe.

Now though, with Toeava succumbing to a pelvis stress fracture and centre Richard Kahui recovering from shoulder surgery, Ellison is keen to get back in provincial action – either against Manawatu this week or Northland the following week – to press his claims for inclusion in Graham Henry’s squad.

But the 26-year-old, who can play in the midfield, on the wing or at full-back, is taking nothing for granted, especially as he as been stuck on the sidelines for over a month.

“I haven’t put much on the track in the last six weeks and you can’t really employ someone without seeing what their work is like,” he said.

“I’m employed to play rugby and you hate to watch on the sideline. There’s definitely added motivation to try and get back and to have an opportunity to play with the All Blacks would be great.”

Despite his desire to be involved in the six-match tour which includes Tests against Australia (in Tokyo), Wales, Italy, England and France, plus a match against the Barbarians, Ellison stressed he would be taking a sensible approach.

“It’s a matter of just getting it right and making sure it’s a hundred (percent) so I can get back to playing as well as I know I can.

“There’s no point in me going out there and popping it again. I’m going to battle to contribute to any team if I’m only playing 10 minutes on half a leg.”