OWN CORRESPONDENT, Dunedin | Sunday 8.00pm.
JONAH LOMU will rejoin the All Black squad on Monday but is unlikely to make the starting 15 for the Tri Nations Test with South Africa next Saturday.
Lomu was impressive in the New Zealand A win over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night. But All Blacks coach John Hart said Sunday it is unlikely Lomu will start against South Africa.
“There is nothing holding Jonah back from being in the squad and evidently he played very well against ACT, but it is unlikely he will make the playing 15,” said Hart. “You’ve got to look at the current back three (Tana Umaga, Jeff Wilson and Christian Cullen) and you can see the competition Jonah is up against.”
Hart dismissed rumours that Lomu had been approached by Australian rugby league side Melbourne Storm. “There are always rumours about Jonah and we take no notice of them,” he said.
Hart, expected to name his side Monday, would not be drawn on the battle for the lock positions. Royce Willis, Norm Maxwell and Robin Brooke took turns at packing down the scrum at training on Saturday and Hart said all three areperforming well. “It is great that we have three, probably four, locks of international quality and we will just have to wait and see who will start,” he said.–AFP