New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu’s dreams of forcing his way into the All Blacks World Cup squad were dashed on Monday after he was left out of a 30-strong squad named for the tournament.
Lomu, a veteran of the 1995 and 1999 World Cups, has hardly played this season after a recurrence of a life-threatening kidney illness that left him needing dialysis treatment three times a week.
The giant 28-year-old wing had made a fleeting 40-minute comeback for Wellington on August 9, but has not been able to play or train properly after suffering from severe cramps in his calves.
Lomu’s exclusion had been widely expected, along with that of former New Zealand flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens.
Mehrtens, who played with Lomu in the 1995 and 1999 tournaments, had been persistently overlooked by New Zealand coach John Mitchell during the international season.
Mitchell has stuck with the tried-and-tested group of players that won New Zealand this season’s Tri-Nations crown and Bledisloe Cup for the World Cup, which takes place in Australia from October 10 to November 22. New Zealand face Wales, Canada, Italy and Tonga in Pool D of the tournament.
The only uncapped player named by Mitchell was Canterbury’s Corey Flynn, who took the third hooking spot behind Keven Mealamu and provincial colleague Mark Hammett.
Elsewhere, the squad saw a recall for Auckland flanker Daniel Braid, who toured Britain and Europe with the All Blacks last year.
Braid’s selection is aimed at giving Mitchell a more mobile backrow option on the hard grounds and heat of Australia. — Sapa-AFP
New Zealand squad
Backs: Mils Muliaina (Auckland), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Ben Blair (Canterbury), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Ma’a Nonu (Wellington), Tana Umaga (Wellington), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Carlos Spencer (Auckland), Byron Kelleher (Otago), Steve Devine (Auckland), Justin Marshall (Canterbury).
Forwards: Rodney So’oialo (Wellington), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Marty Holah (Waikato), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury, captain), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Ali Williams (Auckland), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Kees Meeuws (Auckland), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Dave Hewett (Canterbury), Carl Hoeft (Otago), Mark Hammett (Canterbury), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Corey Flynn (Canterbury).