Umaga To Lead All Blacks

Midfield back Tana Umaga was today (Mon) named
captain of New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team, the first person of Samoan origin to win the honour.

The appointment of Umaga, who takes over from Reuben Thorne, was announced in Welington when All Blacks coach Graham Henry named Probables and Possibles trial teams for a selection
match next
week.

New Zealand-born Umaga, who turns 31 on Thursday, has played 53
Tests for
the All Blacks.

Henry said Umaga had all the attributes needed to lead his country.
He said he spoke to Thorne Sunday and the Canterbury Crusaders
captain
accepted the news “graciously and professionally”.

Meanwhile Super 12 Crusaders No 8 Mose Tuiali’i was a surprise
name in the
Probables line-up.
Tuiali’i, who enjoyed an impressive debut season for the Crusaders
in the
Super 12 contest, has missed the last three weeks due to suspension
after
being found guilty of a head butt during the Crusaders win over the
Western
Stormers on May 1st.

Besides Tuiali’i, Deacon Manu, Andrew Hore and Keith Robinson are
also
included in the Probables starting XV, the trio being rewarded for
outstanding
campaigns in the just concluded Super 12 contest.

Players have been bracketed in two positions in the Probables
starting
line-up, with Jerry Collins and Reuben Thorne set to share the
blindside
flanking duties while Richard McCaw and Marty Holah have been
bracketed on the
other side of the scrum.

The Possibles starting XV features a number of players who were
involved at
last year’s Rugby World Cup including Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu,
Byron
Kelleher, Aaron Mauger, Ben Atiga and Caleb Ralph.

The Probables will play the Possibles at Eden Park, Auckland, next
Tuesday.
The first All Blacks squad will be announced the following day.

The All Blacks coaching staff, will coach the
Probables with Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper
and
Chiefs coach Ian Foster coaching the Possibles,

Probables: Deacon Manu, Andrew Hore, Greg Somerville, Chris Jack,
Keith
Robinson, Jerry Collins/Reuben Thorne, Richard McCaw/Marty Holah,
Mose
Tuiali’i, Justin Marshall, Carlos Spencer, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel
Carter, Tana
Umaga, Doug Howlett, Mils Muliaina.
Probables reserves: Derren Witcombe, Tony Woodcock, Brad Thorn,
Angus
MacDonald, Jimmy Cowan, Luke McAlister, Andrew Mehrtens, Hosea Gear.

Possibles: Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu, Carl Hayman, Jono Gibbes,
Simon
Maling, Craig Newby, Josh Blackie, Xavier Rush, Byron Kelleher, Aaron
Mauger,
Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sam Tuitupou, Ben Atiga, Caleb Ralph, Nick Evans.
Possibles reserves: Corey Flynn Carl Hoeft, Ali Williams, Sione
Lauaki,
Isaac Boss, Tane Tu’ipulotu. Brent Ward.

AFP – 2004.