Isaia Toeava’s season-ending injury could be good news for Tamati Ellison.
The Wellington utility was in the All Blacks squad during the Tri-Nations but did not play – now he looks a fair chance to make the end of year tour.
Ellison has not played a single game of rugby in the last six weeks, and he knows that has to change if he is to tour with the All Blacks next month.
“I’m desperate to get back on the track any way, I’m employed to play rugby and you hate watching on the side line, but that is definitely added motivation to try and get back and have an opportunity to play with the All Blacks would be great,” he says.
Ellison was part of the squad during the Tri-Nations, and the closest he got to the action was running on the kicking tee in Sydney – although he would like to have played ahead of Isaia Toeava against South Africa in Hamilton.
“We were concerned about Isaia at that point, because of this injury problem. Tamati was one we were looking closely at,” says All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith.
“It didn’t come about but we haven’t seen him play a lot there in the last couple of months.”
That has not changed - the calf injury that took Ellison out of contention in Hamilton has continued to plague him and he admits he would find it hard to pick himself.
“I haven’t put much on the track over the last six weeks. So you can’t really employ someone without seeing what their work is like,” he says.
Ellison is hoping to catch the selector’s eyes if he is fit for Wellington clash against Manawatu on Saturday.
3 News
source: newshub archive
