From Bali to Twickenham for Aled de Malmanche

The All Blacks have faith that Waikato's Aled de Malmanche can step in at hooker this weekend against England if he's required.

De Malmanche was whistled up from a holiday in Bali after Canterbury's Corey Flynn "twinged" a hamstring at Monday's training session in London and is now "in doubt" for the Twickenham matchup against the under-siege English.

The burly 112kg Waikato and Chiefs front-rower was due to arrive tonight (NZ time) after having his off-season break cut short, and there's a strong likelihood the 25-year-old could be required for bench duty at Twickenham.

Regular starting hooker Andrew Hore will wear the No2 jersey against England, but assistant coach Wayne Smith said there was full confidence that de Malmanche could step in at any stage if circumstances required it.

De Malmanche was the backup hooker throughout the domestic component of the international season but was overlooked, in favour of Flynn, when it was decided to being just two specialist hookers on this tour.

He had logged just seven minutes in two test appearances off the bench, with the All Blacks coaches appearing not to have faith in his throwing skills.

"We trusted Aled, and we brought him in to give him plenty of work," said Smith at the team hotel in London. "He didn't get a lot of time but that's the nature of the position. You want guys to have to work for it anyway. He's a hard worker, and an explosive athlete. Everyone knows he's got some work to do on his throw, but he's been doing that."Smith explained that the current preference was for hookers to go the full distance in tests if possible to allow them to stay in a "rhythm". He also felt the ability to get de Malmanche in well before the test – he was flown straight out of Bali – justified the decision to go without a third specialist hooker in the touring party.

Flynn was staying positive after a horror run of injuries in recent years had restricted him to just three test appearances off the bench since his 2003 debut. "At least it's not a broken arm like he's had the last couple of years," said Smith of the hamstring strain. "It's fixable. It's touch and go for the weekend but at least it's not terminal for his tour."

Smith reiterated the team line that they expect England to be steeled by the barrage of criticism via the press.

In the latest attack, former test star Josh Lewsey has blasted the England coaching staff in an article in London's Evening Standard newspaper headlined "Clueless coaches taking us nowhere". Lewsey rounded on Martin Johnson's support coaches in the England setup, saying they were not equipped to turn the side's form around in time for them to be competitive against the All Blacks this weekend.

Smith said seeing England backed into a corner like this just made him nervous. "If you put us in the same position I know how we'd be feeling. We've been there, and it really sharpens you."

The All Blacks will name their team tomorrow and it looks like they'll go back to most of their first-choice senior pros. But there could be a lightening of the load for the two men who have started all three tests on this tour – utility back Cory Jane and prop Neemia Tialata.

Don't be surprised to see Zac Guildford get a run on the wing against England and possibly Owen Franks handed a start on the tighthead side of the front row. Otherwise it should be close to the lineup who started against the Wallabies in Tokyo.

- © Fairfax NZ News