Tall Blacks head coach Paul Henare was forced to make one of the toughest calls of his tenure today, cutting two players from his roster for the upcoming Oceania Series.
On the eve of New Zeland's Stankovic Cup final against Mexico, both Leon Henry and Dion Prewster were released in an emotionally-charged team meeting, veteran Lindsay Tait sending them off with a powerful haka.
“These are not the decisions you enjoy but this is a responsibility you accept when you take on a job such as this with a national team," said Henare.
"Myself, Pero (Cameron) and Ross (McMains) have spent hours discussing this moment at various times throughout the tour, we have been encouraging a healthy competition amongst the group, knowing that we would lose two of our brothers at this point in the campaign and that does not make the decision any easier as we say goodbye to Leon and Deon."
Both players will remain on standby in the event of injury, the rest of the roster heading back to New Zealand soil for a final three day camp in preparation for the Boomers series.
“Tonight’s game is the first with the 12 man roster and we will approach the game in a different way to the pool games, when it has been about spreading the minutes and getting different looks," added Henare.
"Tonight we will be playing for ourselves, for our country, the singlet and all who have worn it before us, but we will also play for Leon and Deon who will leave us once we get back to New Zealand.”
Tall Blacks for the Oceania Series:
Tom Abercrombie, Breakers, Forward; Duane Bailey, Breakers, Forward; Everard Bartlett, Ballarat Miners, Guard; Isaac Fotu, La Bruixa d’Or Manresa, Forward; Shea Ili, Southland Sharks, Guard; Jarrod Kenny, Hawkes Bay Hawks, Guard; Robert Loe, KAOD, Centre; Reuben Te Rangi, Breakers, Guard; Mika Vukona, Breakers, Forward (c); Corey Webster, Breakers, Guard; Tai Wynyard, Supercity Rangers, Centre; Lindsay Tait, Wellington Saints, Guard.
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