Silver lining for Wellington trio

For Wellington stars Hosea Gear and Cory Jane, selection in the New Zealand squad for the end of year tour helped to take the edge off another heartbreaking Air New Zealand Cup final loss.

For Wellington stars Hosea Gear and Cory Jane, selection in the New Zealand squad for the end of year tour helped to take the edge off another heartbreaking Air New Zealand Cup final loss.

The pair, along with recalled team-mate Ross Filipo, were given the good news shortly after the final whistle in their 7-6 loss to Canterbury.

“It was upsetting after the game to do so well over the year and lose but that quickly went when I found out I was in the All Blacks squad. At the moment it's still sinking in,” Jane said after the 35-man squad for the trip to Hong Kong, Britain and Ireland was announced.

Hosea Gear revealed the mood in the Lions' changing room had lifted quickly once the players were told.

“After 20 minutes in the rain watching Canterbury going up and receiving the gold medals that wasn't doing the mood any favours. Once we were back in the changing room the heads were still down a little bit until the All Blacks got announced. It wasn't until then that the boys were hitting the roof.”

Gear is the second member of the family to be selected for New Zealand. His brother Rico played 19 Tests for the All Blacks between 2004 and 2007 before heading to English club Worcester.

Hosea has been in weekly contact with his elder sibling throughout the season.

“I've been in talks with my brother about what I needed to work on and really focus on my game,” the 24-year-old said. “I rang him last night. He was the second person I told after my partner. He was over the moon.”

The discussions have clearly helped the Wellington wing, who has battled back from numerous hamstring injuries to be the leading try-scorer in the Air New Zealand Cup this year with 14.

“Those injuries probably dominated my career for a couple of years. Once I managed to get those out of the way I could really put my focus into my performance,” Gear explained.

“Once those injuries were out of the way I was more confident, on and off the field, going into training, team talks and that sort of thing because I was being a bit more involved because I didn't have too many injury issues. It gave me a bit more confidence.”

New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has been particularly impressed by the improvement in Gear's work-rate.

“He's always had the talent. He's always been good with the ball in hand. He's close to being the quickest player in the country, he's very explosive and very strong but he's never nailed it in terms of work-rate, involvement off the ball and doing the other jobs,” said Smith.

“He's worked hard at that this year. He's given more to the team, for example (in the final) he was often on the other side of the field looking for the ball.

“He covered well [in the final]. He got right across the other side of the field defensively. Those are the things I've been looking for this year and he's delivered. Plus as a try-scorer he's the best in the country at the moment.”

With first-choice full-back Mils Muliaina still awaiting the birth of his first child and in doubt for the Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Hong Kong on Saturday and Leon MacDonald absent from the squad because of concussion issues, Jane could be in line for his debut this coming weekend.

But the 25-year-old is not fazed. “I've been wanting to play for the All Blacks since I was little so I'll be ready all right.”

All together there were seven new faces in the 35-man squad with Gear and Jane joined by props Ben Franks and Jamie Mackintosh and loose forwards Kieran Read, Liam Messam and Scott Waldrom.

Waldrom's form for Taranaki in the latter stages of the Air New Zealand Cup and his performance in the trial match in mid-week saw him fight off the challenge from Bay of Plenty's Tanerau Latimer to be captain Richie McCaw's back-up.

“He's always shown a lot of X-factor. He's quick, he's got good skills. He played well in the Super 14, particularly later in the tournament and he's played exceptionally well in this (Air New Zealand Cup) tournament as well,” coach Graham Henry said of 28-year-old Waldrom.

“He gives us some real presence at the breakdown. He turns over a lot of ball there, he's got good skills with his hands. He can get to places most guys can't get to because he's so quick.

“He's played in a Taranaki side that probably boxed above their weight in the finish and he was one of the main reasons they did that.”

Back in the squad after injuries were lock Jason Eaton (knee) and wing Joe Rokocoko (wrist, hamstring), while hooker Corey Flynn returns to the squad after a four-year absence. Filipo last played for the team in 2007.

There was disappointment for loose forward Sione Lauaki who has failed to live up to his potential.

“He will be the first to admit that his form hasn't been as consistent and as high as we would have liked it,” forwards coach Steve Hansen said. “He's got to go away and decide whether he wants to be in this team [again].”

Rudi Wulf was another player to miss the cut after being in the mix for the successful Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup campaigns.

Scrum-half Brendon Leonard (knee) and MacDonald (concussion) were the only players not considered because of injury.

Henry confirmed that Gloucester-bound prop Greg Somerville was on standby for the match in Hong Kong should John Afoa fail to overcome a knee problem in time and that scrum-half Andy Ellis was recovering well from his knee injury and should be okay for the tour despite the fact he was absent from the Air New Zealand Cup final on Saturday.