AB callup puts Hill's overseas plans on hold
29 May 2006Â
By EVAN PEGDEN
David Hill's overseas plans are up in the air after he was named in the All Blacks squad to prepare for two tests against Ireland in Hamilton and Auckland.
The 27-year-old Chiefs and Waikato five-eighths had not really thought of himself as being back in All Blacks calculations until he was given the whisper three weeks ago that he might be in line to play his first test.
He had been linked to English club Bristol and has a one-year contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which expires at the end of this year.
But the player, who became an All Black under John Mitchell on the 2001 end-of-year northern hemisphere tour and played against Ireland A and Scotland A, said last night none of his plans were set in concrete.
"A few weeks ago I wouldn't have given (becoming an All Black again) a thought," Hill said.
"All I was thinking about was getting back on the paddock (after a frustrating Super 14 season of illness and injury), playing a few games and then maybe looking forward to going away with the New Zealand Maori team.
"But it just shows you can't plan for too much these days."
Hill, who has been used almost exclusively as a second five-eighths by the Chiefs and Waikato over the last 14 months, was shifted back to first five for this year's penultimate Super 14 game against the Waratahs.
With Highlanders first five-eighths Nick Evans out of the picture through injury and the selectors wanting to spread the test load against Ireland and Argentina over a big squad of players, Hill now finds himself the likely back-up on the reserve bench for five-eighths Luke McAlister and Aaron Mauger.
"I played two mid-week games the last time I was in the All Blacks so obviously it would be pretty special if I can get on the field and play against Ireland."
Hill is joined by fellow Chiefs and Waikato teammates Marty Holah, Byron Kelleher and Mils Muliaina for the Ireland tests on June 10 and 17, while Sitiveni Sivivatu and the Chiefs' successful Auckland draftee Sam Tuitupou are in the starting XV named for the test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on June 18. Another 12 Chiefs players are spread over the Junior All Blacks and New Zealand Maori teams. Sosene Anesi, Steven Bates, Stephen Donald, Jamie Nutbrown, Niva Ta'auso and Bernie Upton are in the Juniors, while Jono Gibbes will captain the Maori side and is joined in that squad by Scott Linklater, Deacon Manu, Liam Messam, Kristian Ormsby and Anthony Tahana.
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