Birth may lock Jack out of test

[Flamethrower]

Lets hope she keeps her legs crossed for another week


Birth may lock Jack out of test
By JIM KAYES - The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 13 June 2007


http://www.stuff.co.nz/4092810a10295.html

The All Blacks locking crisis could deepen with Chris Jack in doubt for next week's Tri Nations test against South Africa in Durban because of the birth of his first child.
Jack's wife, Kym, is due within the next two weeks and the veteran lock will discuss his travel plans with All Blacks coach Graham Henry this week.
The All Blacks, who re-assemble in Wellington today, play Canada in Hamilton on Saturday then fly to South Africa early Sunday morning where they remain for a week. They play Australia in Melbourne a week later.
Jack's wife was due to see a specialist this week but unless the child arrives before the weekend he is unlikely to travel with the team to South Africa. He still might get there, however.
In 2004, Tana Umaga flew home from Australia after a Bledisloe Cup test for the birth of his third child then flew to South Africa to play the Springboks in Johannesburg.
He had a shocker with his opposite, Marius Joubert, scoring three tries in the Springboks' 40-26 win.
While it is not unprecedented for Jack to join the All Blacks late, the concern will be that he could stay home next week only for the pregnancy to run into the following week, when the All Blacks are in Melbourne.
A week ago the absence of Jack, 28, and a veteran of 59 tests, could have been covered but when Keith Robinson pulled his calf warming up for last Saturday's test against France, and then Ali Williams broke his jaw during the 61-10 win, those locking stocks thinned.
With James Ryan and Jason Eaton out injured for the rest of the year and Jono Gibbes also sidelined, South African-born Greg Rawlinson and the uncapped Ross Filipo have been called in for Saturday's test against Canada.
The team will be named today and at least one of those two will make the 22, with Troy Flavell and blindside flanker Reuben Thorne the most likely locking starting combination.
That will be fine against Canada but the All Blacks will be wary of tackling South Africa, whose locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha are over 2m tall, without the 2.02m tall Jack.
Thorne, who has started all 46 of his tests at blindside but finished a few at lock, is only 1.92m tall, Flavell 1.95m and Filipo the tallest of the trio at 1.98m.
Former All Blacks lock Todd Blackadder, who was the Crusaders' lineout coach in the Super 14, said Thorne and Filipo would be "good as gold" as a test combination.
"Reuben and Ross will hold their own. Ross was outstanding for us. He's quite explosive and street smart – he's a good lineout forward."
"If you've got an explosive lifter and jumper, and a reasonable thrower, you should do OK."

[Burgs]

Test v birth....Test v birth.... Test v birth

[chook]

He misses his test berth for a birth

[Nick]

I dont think Rueben Thorn Is a quality replacement for Chris Jack I'd much prefer to see Filipo or Rawlinson ou there - I also think Marty Holah is a bit of a forgotten man who doen pretty well in the super 14's for the chief's... They'll come through either way.

[Jess]

I hate to say it but there are more important things in life than rugby. He would forever regret missing the birth of his first child.

But if he's lucky his missus will have a television in her hospital room so he can watch the test match on the tele!

He should take a leaf out of my dad's book. The day after I was born he invited one of his best mates to mum's hotel room and he brought the beer and they watched the Aus vs France Test Match and I'm told I didn't cry once throughout the entirety of the game.

Looks like I loved rugby from the moment I was born.

[PerthGirl]

I think Doug Howlett is out on paternity leave as well

[JediKnight]

He's not giving birth, is he? Or did they artificially inseminate him during the 'conditioning' camp?!

Why doesn't he just fly his wife to South Africa so she can give birth there & then he won't have to miss the test??!!!

Priorities, eh?!