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All Blacks continue rotation plan

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LONDON, England -- All Blacks coach Graham Henry has rested some key players for Sunday's game against England, saying his aim was to arrive at the third match of their tour, against France in Paris, with a fresh first-choice team.

Fly-half Dan Carter was named among the replacements, though he could yet be promoted to the starting team after Nick Evans tweaked a hamstring in training on Wednesday and was described by Henry as "questionable".

There was also a first start for more than two years for lock Keith Robinson, who suffered a serious back injury, while Ma'a Nonu gets a run at outside center in a team still bristling with attacking intent.

Henry has spent the last year following a policy of trying to develop a huge squad, where he has experienced cover in every position, and every other international coach would be delighted to have such "stand-ins" at his disposal.

Henry said that after the England game and the first test against France in Lens the following weekend, he should be in a position to solidify his choices.

"I think it's a strong team, we are playing quality opposition and they have a strong team out and this is probably not far off the best team," Henry told a news conference at the team's London hotel.

"We've tried to develop two teams, tried to develop a group and that's been achieved. Now we want to make sure that we are working towards the top 22 and the players know that.

"That won't always be the same team, depending on form and injuries but that's the objective of game three and game four," Henry added in reference to the Paris clash and his team's final game against Wales in Cardiff.

Horsman misses test

Wales prop Chris Horsman will miss Saturday's test against Australia after his club Worcester refused to release him for the match.

Saturday's game at the Millennium Stadium falls outside the official International Rugby Board test window, meaning that Worcester were not obliged to release the player, who had been named among the replacements earlier on Tuesday.

Instead Worcester, bottom of the Premiership, want him to play in their league game against Leicester.

"It is disappointing. We were expecting Chris to play. It is not what you want," said Wales coach Gareth Jenkins, who will no doubt cast a jealous eye at England on Sunday when they take on the All Blacks without any players withheld.

England, who are playing four tests in November, won the right to get their players released in the High Court, in return offering hefty compensation to the clubs and a promise that no player will feature in all four games.

Horsman should be available for Wales's other games against the Pacific Islands, Canada and New Zealand.

Wales lock Brent Cockbain is out of the first three tests after being banned for 20 days on Tuesday for stamping, while playing for the Ospreys against Sale in the Heineken Cup.

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