Handy Andy to the rescue
Crusaders halfback Andy Ellis is expected to wear the All Blacks No9 jersey against Samoa in July after almost four years in the test wilderness.
The 31-year-old played the last of his 26 tests for New Zealand when he came on as a substitute in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.
The emergence of Aaron Smith and the selectors’ preference for the more youthful TJ Perenara and Tawera Kerr-Barlow has resulted in Ellis being unable to break back into the All Black fold.
However, all signs are pointing to Ellis being given the nod for the Apia test alongside long-time Crusaders and Canterbury teammate Dan Carter, at first fiveeighth.
Head coach Steve Hansen fronted media as the team got their first camp of the year under way in Auckland on Wednesday and when asked if Ellis was likely to play gave a strong indication that would be the case.
"I’d say [that is] definitely likely," said Hansen.
"TKB [Kerr-Barlow] is going to play for the Maori, which is three days later, and Aaron Smith and TJ [Perenara] are both involved with their games. I’d suggest he might play."
Hansen ruled out Kerr-Barlow, who is coming back from a knee injury after a nine-month layoff, until at least the first Rugby Championship match against Australia in Sydney on August 8. The Chiefs halfback will play club rugby this weekend and for the New Zealand Maori side against Fiji in Suva on July 11, three days after the All Blacks face Samoa.
And with Aaron Smith (Highlanders) and Perenara (Hurricanes) involved in Super Rugby semifinals on Saturday and a possible final next weekend, it would not be a surprise to see Ellis start in the historic Samoan fixture.
As hinted at by Hansen when the All Blacks squad was named on Sunday, Brad Weber has been called up for the initial camp.
However, the young Chiefs halfback is only likely to get a chance against Samoa through an injury to Smith or Perenara or an allKiwi Super Rugby final.
"Any All Black who gets a recall is normally extremely excited and that’s how he feels," Hansen said of Ellis.
"It’s a dream for a lot of people to be an All Black and when you lose that opportunity you have time to reflect on it and understand how much it really meant, so when you get another opportunity I think you’re probably better prepared to make the most of it, so Andy’s excited."
Hansen is keen to give Crusaders backrower Matt Todd two starts at openside flanker in the first two tests, which may see Richie McCaw start from the bench and Kieran Read take over the captaincy.
Meanwhile, the first day of the All Black camp came as a welcome relief for loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett.
At this time of the season the 32-year-old prop and his Crusaders team-mates are usually preparing for yet another Super Rugby playoffs clash.
With the frustration of not making the top six for the first time since 2001 still wearing off, the 36-test loosehead said All Black camp had arrived in timely fashion.
"It’s really strange [not being in the Super Rugby playoffs] actually. We turned up last week and we were like ‘what do we do now?’
"To be out of the reckoning at the business end of the season is quite frustrating and you have to take a bit of time to get over that and then as a player [ask] what’s the next thing? To come in here is really exciting and refreshing and it’s great to have that to move on to.’’