Marshall and Mehrtens set for Test return
June 19, 2001

Canterbury halves Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens are poised to return to the All Blacks starting line-up for Saturday's Test against Argentina.

The pair stayed on the substitutes' bench last Saturday while Otago's Byron Kelleher and Tony Brown performed well against Samoa.

But All Blacks coach Wayne Smith is likely to play the Canterbury combination against the Pumas as he evaluates his top 15 for the French Test on June 30 and the Tri-Nations series starting next month.

The team to meet Argentina will be named Wednesday with several changes likely. Marshall and Mehrtens were behind the pack on Tuesday at an open training session at Jade Stadium, with Jonah Lomu - rested for the Samoan Test - on the left wing and Jeff Wilson on the right.

Former All Blacks skipper Taine Randell was on the open-side flank where Marty Holah played against Samoa, Carl Hayman ran at tighthead prop instead of Greg Somerville and Jerry Collins packed down at No 8 - Ron Cribb's regular berth.

Lomu and Collins were added to the squad after the Samoan Test.

Possible All Black starting 15: Leon MacDonald, Jeff Wilson, Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu, Pita Alatini,
Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Jerry Collins, Taine Randell, Norm Maxwell, Troy Flavell, Reuben Thorne, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver (capt), Carl Hoeft. - Sapa-NZPA

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