All Blacks team announced - Umaga bracketed

Tana Umaga has been bracketed with Conrad Smith to play at Centre in the Philips Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup match this weekend.

Team management are still awaiting medical clearance for captain Tana Umaga who sprained his ankle is last Saturday’s Philips Tri Nations Test against South Africa. If Umaga is ruled out Conrad Smith will start.

“It’s day by day at the moment,” Umaga said. “I’d like to be running by tomorrow to give me and the team an indication of where I am and whether I will be okay to play.”

“Tana is making progress, but we need to keep monitoring his injury,” coach Graham Henry said . “We would like him to start and will hold the door open as long as possible. If his ankle is no good, then we start Conrad Smith.” Umaga is slated to captain the team. In his absence, flanker Richie McCaw would assume the captaincy.

The only changes to the line-up that was beaten 22-16 last weekend in South Africa are Joe Rokocoko, who is promoted from the bench to the left wing, Piri Weepu replaces the injured Byron Kelleher and Bay of Plenty’s Kevin Senio brought onto the pine, Mils Muliaina regains the No 15 jersey and Leon MacDonald also starts the game from the bench.

All Blacks:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Keven Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Chris Jack
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw
8. Rodney So’oialo
9. Piri Weepu
10. Dan Carter
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Aaron Mauger
13. Tana Umaga / Conrad Smith
14. Rico Gear
15. Mils Muliaina

Reserves:

16. Derren Witcombe
17. Greg Somerville
18. James Ryan
19. Marty Holah
20. Kevin Senio
21. Luke McAlister
22. Leon MacDonald

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