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Cory Jane - Source: Photosport -
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He's no twit, but All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry will have
a quiet word with Neemia Tialata and Cory Jane after they revealed
their non-selection to face England more than 24 hours early.
Henry confirmed the pair would be rested for Sunday's (NZT) Test at
Twickenham, allowing Owen Franks his eighth Test at tighthead prop
and winger Zac Guildford his second in an otherwise full-strength
side.
The only drama remained around bench hooker Corey Flynn who Henry
said would be "struggling" to play due to a hamstring strain,
meaning Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche will likely wear the No 16
jersey as Andrew Hore's backup after arriving in London last night
(NZT)
Tialata and Jane both revealed on Wednesday on their
Twitter pages they would be resting this weekend, having started
all three tests on the tour so far.
Said Henry: "I had to find out what bloody Twitter was. I thought
it was a new guy playing five-eighth for England."
The coach said the pair hadn't earned a rebuke but he would remind
them about publicly revealing their selections before time.
"I haven't lost any sleep over it, I haven't even thought about it
really. I saw the headline, shrugged my shoulders and got on.
"We announce the team on Monday to the guys and they probably
thought it was going to be announced to the media during that
day.
"A quiet reminder tomorrow won't go astray but it's not a major.
There won't be six of the cane in the corner."
It's not the first time social networking has caused Tialata drama
this year after he criticised the Wellington Rugby Union on his
Facebook page after he wasn't selected during a layoff from the All
Blacks.
Henry said Tialata and Jane had earned a rest after three tough
Rests, which suggested they would return for the French test in
Marseille on November 28.
Franks, 21, made his debut off the bench against Italy in
Christchurch and started three Tri Nations Tests against the
Springboks in Durban and Hamilton, and the Wallabies in
Sydney.
His only game time on tour to date was the final 20 minutes in
Cardiff.
"He's been impressive for a young guy. He's got the right attitude
and he's good technician at the scrum," said Henry, adding Franks
had worked hard to improve the rest of his game.
Guildford, 20, shifts to the right wing to accommodate Sitiveni
Sivivatu after an impressive Cardiff debut.
"He's very good under the high ball, he can pop up anywhere and
play anywhere in the backline from phase play, and he's got plenty
of pace so he can score tries," attack coach Steve Hansen
said.
De Malmanche was summoned from a Bali holiday, and with Henry
resigned to the luckless Flynn not playing it meant the newcomer
would be put on a crash course after two bench cameos this
year.
"To pull a hamstring on a Monday and be right for a Saturday is
virtually unheard of.
"I think Zinzan Brooke did it a few years ago when he put fried
eggs on his leg but I can't remember anyone else doing it," Henry
said.
"(De Malmanche) has done a lot of homework today and we'll squeeze
a lot of information into him tomorrow."
It was a tight call between Adam Thomson and Jerome Kaino at
blindside flanker, with Thomson getting the nod due to his ability
as a turnover specialist and his strength on opposition lineout
throws.
Henry said England, whose coach Martin Johnson handed second
five-eighth Ayoola Erinle his first test start and recalled
experienced forwards Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley, would remain a
tough proposition.
"They'll play very well at the weekend, they've obviously got a
pretty physical gameplan in mind and they'll be highly
motivated.
"We respect England. They're inclined to come right when they play
big games."
