 Rico Gear and Ma'a Nonu are under pressure ©Getty Images |
21/05/2007
Junior All Blacks coach Ian Foster is relishing the challenge of trying to get M'a Nonu and Rico Gear back into the top squad.The pair of powerful backs were the biggest casualties when Graham Henry named his All Blacks squad of 30 last week.
Gear has special reason to feeling aggrieved after he showed solid form for the Crusaders in the Super 14 but was overlooked in favour of Joe Rokocoko, the reconditioned star who hardly figured in the Blues' run to the semifinal.
Nonu could have few complaints after a lacklustre campaign with the Hurricanes always put a question mark over his All Blacks place.
But he, like Gear, remains very much in the All Blacks frame as they build towards naming their World Cup squad later in the year.
Nonu will clearly become a special case for the Junior All Blacks where his Hurricanes mentor Colin Cooper is Foster's co-coach.
"Coops has got a pretty good knowledge of where Ma'a is at," said Foster.
"We will sit down with them all and go through where they think they are at and what they need to do to push their claims."
When asked if Nonu's defence remained a worry, Foster was tactful with his reply: "If Ma'a thinks that's an issue we will certainly be working on it."
Just getting Nonu' attacking prowess going again will suffice for now. At his best, he remains one of the most destructive runners in the game and a player who could still add impact to the World Cup mix if he can pick up his game with the Juniors.
Foster indicated Nonu's place would be in the midfield.
"I think he has certainly been selected as a 12 but we are open and the Juniors is an opportunity to show something a bit different, to show that they have a different skill set. We have Sammy Tuitupou as a specialist 12 and we also have Steve Brett who can play 12 so there are variables.
"We will pick the team on a weekly basis on who's doing the job for us who can."
There's also a chance that Gear may get a run at centre in the Pacific Nations Cup that features Japan, Samoa, Fiji, Australia A and the Junior All Blacks.
Asked whether his coaching staff felt under pressure to produce All Blacks, Foster didn't hold back.
"Yes we do. I think that's our role. If they (the players) want to have a crack at it we have to give them the resources to do that. Our programme is intense and demanding and if they can perform through this five week window it does mean something."
"It's a strenuous tournament. There are five games, all of them very physical against the islands and then you have Aussie A coming into it. That's going to be a real challenge in Dunedin. So there is quality rugby and a big chance for guys who want to push their claims."
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