Gear and Eaton recalled for Tri Nations campaign

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Good Pacific Nations Cup performances has seen Hosea Gear and Jason Eaton recalled to the All Blacks for the forthcoming Tri Nations campaign against Australia and South Africa.

The return of the two Junior All Blacks alongside Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo and Sitiveni Sivivatu has bolstered a squad which failed to hit the heights expected during the Iveco Series tests against France and Italy.

But there is no place in the squad for Waikato's Liam Messam or Counties Manukau flyer Lelia Masaga who both played against France and Italy respectively.

The squad is made up of 17 forwards and 13 backs with the forwards bolstered by the return of captain Richie McCaw who has recovered from his knee injury, while Rodney So'oialo returns after his recovery and rehabilitation.

In the backs, Sitiveni Sivivatu returns after recovering from a dislocated shoulder, which ruled him out of the Iveco Series.

It will be a quick turnaround for 26-year-old Hurricanes and Taranaki lock Eaton and 25-year-old Hurricanes and Wellington winger Gear, who last played for the All Blacks on the 2008 Grand Slam tour, with the pair returning to New Zealand yesterday after helping the Junior All Blacks to victory in the recent Pacific Nations Cup.

Meanwhile, the injury news for the All Blacks continues, with Isaia Toeava likely to miss the first three Tests of the Investec Tri Nations, with a scan late this week confirming that he has a stress fracture in his left foot; while Stephen Donald is also recovering from his hamstring strain.

The All Blacks squad will assemble in Wellington for a two-day camp next week (Wednesday and Thursday) and four players will assemble with the squad for the camp as cover: Hurricanes and Wellington utility back Tamati Ellison, Crusaders and Canterbury first five-eighths Stephen Brett and 2008 All Blacks Ben Franks and Anthony Tuitavake, who were all members of the victorious Junior All Blacks squad.

Players not considered for selection due to injury include lock Ali Williams (Achilles), wing Rudi Wulf (shoulder), flanker Adam Thomson (hand), centre Richard Kahui (shoulder), lock Anthony Boric (toe), halfback Andy Ellis (ribs), hooker Corey Flynn (forearm), flanker Scott Waldrom (back) and first-five eighths Daniel Carter (Achilles).

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said the team was under no illusions how challenging this year's Investec Tri Nations would be.

"It's going to be a huge contest right from the first Test. But this group of players has the resolve and the character to meet that challenge head on so we are expecting it to be another massive competition between the three top-ranked countries in world rugby," he said.

The All Blacks open the Investec Tri Nations on Saturday July 18 when they take on the Wallabies at Eden Park, Auckland, in the first Bledisloe Cup clash before they head to South Africa for two Tests against the Springboks at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein (July 25) and ABSA Stadium, Durban (August 1).

They play the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on August 22 and finish the competition with two home Tests against the Springboks at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, on September 12 and the Wallabies at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, the following week on September 19.

The All Blacks will assemble in Auckland on Sunday 12 July ahead of the Auckland Bledisloe Cup Test.

The full squad is:

John Afoa (Auckland)
Jimmy Cowan (Southland)
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury)
Aled de Malmanche (Waikato)
Stephen Donald (Waikato)
Jason Eaton (Taranaki)
Bryn Evans (Hawke's Bay)
Owen Franks (Canterbury)
Hosea Gear (Wellington)
Andrew Hore (Taranaki)
Cory Jane (Wellington)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland)
Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty)
Brendon Leonard (Waikato)
Luke McAlister (North Harbour)
Richie McCaw (Canterbury (Captain))
Keven Mealamu (Auckland)
Mils Muliaina (Waikato)
Ma'a Nonu (Wellington)
Kieran Read (Canterbury)
Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland)
Isaac Ross (Canterbury)
Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato)
Conrad Smith (Wellington)
Rodney So'oialo (Wellington)
Brad Thorn (Canterbury)
Isaia Toeava (Auckland)
Neemia Tialata (Wellington)
Piri Weepu (Wellington)
Tony Woodcock (North Harbour)