New Zealand coach Graham Henry has selected the missing piece in his squad for Rugby World Cup 2007 with prop Greg Somerville becoming the 30th and final member after recovering from injury.
Only 29 players had been named by Henry and his fellow selectors last month with Somerville, who played for the All Blacks at RWC 2003, given longer to prove his fitness after a long injury layoff since rupturing his Achilles tendon in last year’s Tri Nations.
Somerville then suffered another setback when he suffered a retinal tear after being accidentally poked in his right eye during an Air New Zealand Cup game for Canterbury, but the 55-Test veteran has now been given the all clear to resume playing by his eye surgeon.
“I’d like to congratulate Greg for his perseverance,” said Henry, whose side will play Scotland, Italy, Romania and Portugal in Pool C in their quest to end a 20-year wait for a second World Cup success.
“He has come back well from a couple of injuries and the way he handled setbacks during rehab shows the quality of the man. The signs are that he’ll be ready for contact before we leave for France, and we’ll have a good amount of training time with him in Marseille as well.”
New Zealand squad:
Forwards (16): Jerry Collins, Carl Hayman, Andrew Hore, Chris Jack, Sione Lauaki, Richie McCaw (Captain), Chris Masoe, Keven Mealamu, Anton Oliver, Keith Robertson, Greg Somerville, Rodney So’oialo, Reuben Thorne, Neemia Tialata, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock.
Backs (14): Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Nick Evans, Doug Howlett, Byron Kelleher, Brendon Leonard, Luke McAllister, Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger, Malili Muliaina, Josevata Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava.
