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Dowd to return to All Blacks
Posted: Monday July 26, 1999 09:47 AM
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Injury-recovered Craig Dowd has returned to the All Blacks squad for the toughest leg of their international rugby season before October's World Cup. Dowd was one of four additions named Monday to the regular side for the 26-member squad leaving Friday for the return Tri-Nations match against South Africa in Pretoria on Aug. 7. The New Zealand selectors have also given Gordon Slater a chance to revive his All Blacks career, recalled Carlos Spencer as cover for the backline, and for the first time included Canterbury's Reuben Thorne as a loose forward/lock cover. Midfield back Pita Alatini, released from the squad to play for New Zealand A on Sunday, will also make the trip. The most significant selections are those of Dowd, who has been out of action with a broken ankle and then a back injury over the last couple of months, and Slater. The pair will battle for Carl Hoeft's test spot in the front row. Hoeft, one of the heroes of Saturday's 34-15 win over Australia in Auckland, is out of the Tri-Nations with an injured calf. His torn muscles are expected to keep him out for about six weeks. New Zealand coach John Hart said the additions to the regular squad were made specifically for the South African match with some thought given to the World Cup campaign. "It's a bit of both, but ideally it's what we need to cover in South Africa," Hart said.
New Zealand Squad
Pita Alatni, Tony Brown, Christian Cullen, Daryl Gibson, Alama Ieremia, Byron Kelleher, Jonah Lomu, Justin Marshall, Andrew Mehrtens, Carlos Spencer, Tana Umaga, Jeff Wilson (vice-captain), Andrew Blowers, Robin Brooke, Craig Dowd, Greg Feek, Mark Hammett, Josh Kronfeld, Norm Maxwell, Kees Meeuws, Dylan Mika, Anton Oliver, Taine Randell (captain), Gordon Slater, Reuben Thorne, Royce Willis.
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