Henry backs "best winger in the world"

Last season All Blacks coach Graham Henry labeled Hosea Gear as the best wingman in world rugby, and has given his 2010 incumbent his first test start of this season’s campaign.

Pass It On Tweet 42

Gear was a stunning inclusion on the All Blacks end-of-year tour courtesy of excellent form for the Hurricanes and Wellington, as New Zealand achieved their third Grand Slam under Henry.

Now recovered from a minor hamstring injury, Gear takes his place to prove his worth after watching other wings stamp their World Cup claims.

Fellow wing Sitiveni Sivivatu is included in the starting lineup, and the Fijian born back was able to make a startling impression against his countrymen, before a knee complaint ruled him out of any involvement against the Springboks.

The 44-test wing is the most experienced of those playing for a berth in the three quarter line.

The Chiefs back has made his statement, Zac Guildford has put in solid performance in his two outings, while against South Africa Cory Jane was magnificent.

Ben Smith has been released to play for Otago and could be the first of the outside casualties, with at least one more player likely to be desperately unlucky as the first two tests have seen all wings play as if there lives depended on it.

Henry said Gear has to prove he could find his feet quickly, but backed the man who finished 2010 as the first choice All Blacks wing.

"He's got to come to it quick," said Henry.

"He was outstanding at the end of last year - probably the best winger in the world.

"He's got a lot of attributes. So going into a big game without a buildup is a personal challenge for him. But he's played a lot of football and he should be ready mentally to do that.

"Hosea has trained well, he's looked sharp, it's just getting over that hump. This is an even bigger game and we're asking a lot of him. But the expectations are high."

Gear originally was not under pressure as he was always going to be given gratis considering his form late last year, but Henry did say that the spotlight was back on him, despite players like Jane and Sivivatu being injury replacements.

"Probably not (Gear being under pressure at the beginning), but once the other guys play well that reverses a bit," he said.

"He had an outstanding tour last year and scored a lot of tries against the odds. We've got a lot of confidence in his ability to play at this level which we didn't always have.

"Then you get other guys in those positions playing well. Cory Jane couldn't have played better last week. So that adds pressure."