Smith delays naming of squad
August 2, 2001

All Black coach Wayne Smith has delayed the announcement of his squad for the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup Test until Friday.

Smith had intended to release the 22-man squad on Thursday for the match against Australia in Dunedin on August 11, but an All Blacks spokesman said it was being left until Friday to allow the players time to settle in at home after a four-day training camp at Burnham military camp.

Smith and co-selectors Tony Gilbert and Peter Thorburn are expected to retain most, if not all, of the squad who beat South Africa 12-3 in Cape Town in the opening Tri-Nations match on July 22.

The major interest will be whether towering Waikato lock Mark Cooksley is brought into the squad to increase the All Blacks' lineout options. He has played just two club games since his comeback from a shoulder injury, but with North Harbour lock Troy Flavell unable to take a full part in training this week, the selectors might look to Cooksley.

The camp ended on Thursday with a skills contest and a training session. Five players were unable to take part in the last practise.

Flavell missed three days of training with back spasms. Others sidelined were flyhalf Tony Brown (hamstring strain), centre Mark Ranby (abdominal muscle tear), hooker Mark Hammett (sore ankle), and prop Carl Hoeft (bruised back and hip).

Only Ranby is a definite non-starter for the test in Dunedin. Hammett has been bracketed in the Canterbury squad for their Ranfurly Shield defence against Nelson Bays on Saturday. - Sapa

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