New Zealand have dropped Nick Evans, the outside-half who is joining Harlequins next season, from their squad to face Ireland and England next month. The flanker Chris Masoe, who was also omitted from the squad, learned of his demotion through an answerphone message and was so upset at not being told personally of the decision that he asked to be immediately released from his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which runs until the end of the year.
Masoe, who has won 20 caps, said he would consider a move to Europe. He becomes the 11th member of New Zealand's World Cup squad to leave the international stage in the last eight months and the second back-rower this week, following the decision of the blindside Jerry Collins to terminate his contract with the All Blacks.
The New Zealand head coach, Graham Henry, announced a 25-man training squad yesterday that did not include players from the Crusaders, who are preparing for Saturday's Super 14 final against the New South Wales Waratahs. Henry said he would not have picked Collins anyway, on grounds of form, but he will be short of experience in key positions, such as second row, against Ireland and England. Evans was the only established cover for the Crusaders fly-half Daniel Carter, who is expected to join Toulon in December.
Wales tour South Africa next month and their captain, the Ospreys No8 Ryan Jones, said yesterday that he would not be using injuries as an excuse if his side lost the two-Test series against the world champions. The grand slam winners are without six players who played pivotal roles in the Six Nations campaign and three capped scrum-halves are unavailable for the trip.
"We are going out there to win, simple as that, and we will not be going on about who is missing," said Jones. "The boys drew a line under the grand slam a while ago. You can't afford to dwell on these things. It doesn't come bigger than this. It can be very daunting in South Africa, but we have to go out there and be courageous, both physically and mentally. It is probably the world's toughest place to play Test rugby. We know what the challenge is, and we've got to rise to it.
"This is what makes Test rugby special. You travel away to a hostile environment, you are taken away from your comfort zone and then asked to perform to the best of your ability. I don't care if we go out there and we win two Tests 3-0 each. Development is important, but for me it is about going out there and performing and winning. I want to take this Welsh team on to bigger and better things. We are going to pit ourselves against the best team in the world and find out how good we are. I think if we get what we want to do right, we can win."
The Edinburgh prop Craig Smith yesterday withdrew from next month's Scotland tour to Argentina. The 29-year old, who has won 25 caps, is considering his future as a professional after struggling with injuries at the end of the season.
"Craig feels he is not at his best to be representing Scotland," said the national coach, Frank Hadden. "I hope that, after a summer break, he will be ready to resume full training again because he has a lot to offer the team."
The Edinburgh tight-head Geoff Cross will replace Smith. Saracens yesterday signed a 26-year old Waratahs centre, Ben Jacobs, on a three-year contract.
