News in Brief
McAlister recalled by All Blacks
New Zealand international Luke McAlister was part of the Barbarians side beaten by Australia in Sydney on Saturday
© Getty Images
- New Zealand have called up Luke McAlister for next Saturday's international against France in Dunedin.
The 25-year-old, who won the last of his 22 caps in the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, is expected to join the squad in Dunedin on Monday after playing for the Barbarians against Australia over the weekend in Sydney.
McAlister replaces the injured Richard Kahui who is likely to miss six months because of a shoulder injury that requires surgery. Stephen Brett has been called into the Junior All Blacks squad to replace McAlister.
A statement from the New Zealand Union said head coach Graham Henry had exercised his discretion in calling up McAlister because of injuries. McAlister underwent knee surgery in February then parted ways with his Sale club after two seasons, turning down lucrative offers to re-sign with the NZRU.
Henry said McAlister's time playing for Sale had made him a stronger player. "Luke returns to the All Blacks squad better for the rugby experience in the Northern Hemisphere and will provide us with more backline options for the this series and beyond," Henry said.
- Nick Mallett has arrived in Australia with his Italy squad and has criticised the schedule facing his team over the next two years in the run up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The former Springbok coach now in charge of Italy is fearful that a tough schedule of games will do nothing for the development of his team. The Azzurri play two Tests against Australia and one against New Zealand in the next three weeks.
Italy are 12th on the IRB rankings and Mallett said: "In 16 games in charge we still haven't played a team lower than us in the rankings and between now and the World Cup there won't be a single game against a team seeded below us. Rugby should be a mix of playing against teams who are better than you, at the same level and weaker than you."
- Bath are reportedly chasing ACT Brumbies flanker Julian Salvi to help fill the gaps left by the departure of several top players. Chief executive Bob Calleja said he had been surprised by how much interest there had been from overseas players to join the Premiership team at the Rec.
Head coach Steve Meehan is presently on holiday in Australia but Calleja said he was in daily contact following the departure of four leading players, Justin Harrison, Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins, embroiled in drug-taking allegations.
Bath are understood to be chasing Salvi whose path into the Wallaby squad is blocked by George Smith. "We have been surprised by how many players are available to us," Calleja said.
© Scrum.com
1. Max Verstappen ()
