RUGBY DIGEST:NEW ZEALAND postponed naming a team to face Australia in the first Tri-Nations Test in Auckland on Saturday to assess the fitness of outhalves Luke McAlister and Stephen Donald.

McAlister and Donald shared the position during the June Tests but have been hampered with fitness concerns.

Donald trained in Wellington yesterday despite nearly being ruled out of Saturday’s Test with a hamstring injury, while McAlister also got through the session despite back spasms keeping him out of two club rugby matches.

“I’d say the coaches would be pretty pleased,” scrumhalf Brendon Leonard said. “They’ve both been there before, so I think they’d be pretty confident that whoever steps into that jersey will be able to do the job.”

After fielding a succession of injury-ravaged teams in their first three internationals against France and Italy, the All Blacks will welcome back talismanic captain Richie McCaw and forward Rodney So’oialo.

Sitiveni Sivivatu is also expected to help the All Blacks defend their more than 20-year winning streak over the Wallabies at Eden Park, after recovering from a shoulder injury.

The All Blacks name their 22-man squad tomorrow. Fullback Zane Kirchner, who made his international debut in the final Test against the Lions, will miss South Africa’s home matches in the Tri-nations due to a fractured cheekbone.

The 25-year-old picked up the injury in the Blue Bulls’ Currie Cup match against the Gauteng on Saturday. The Bulls said on Monday that Kirchner will undergo surgery and would be out of rugby “for at least four weeks”.

The Springboks return to action on July 25th with their opening Tri-nations match against New Zealand in Bloemfontein, followed by games against the All Blacks in Durban on August 1st and Australia in Cape Town a week later. The overseas leg of their campaign starts against Australia in Perth on August 29th.