Top Gear.

Absolute scintillating wing form in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup has seen Hosea Gear get the beautiful call from Graham Henry. As soon as Gear touched down in Fiji he was on a mission, leading the Haka and eventually leading the try scoring tally he was in breathtaking form. The good bit is being 1200 miles away from home base-NZ in this nick didn’t elude Mr Henry & co.

The great news continues for the JAB’s team that won the trophy this week, big Jason Eaton has also had the official elevation to the senior NZ team. In the last couple of games he has been playing at 6, obviously the All Blacks selectors see him as a great versatile option at lock & on the side of the scrum. He has been in the All Blacks wilderness a while now, but drawing on his great experiences of the past and form over the last month he will be eager to please.

On pure form though Hosea Gear is light years ahead, his innate ability to sniff tries is remarkable. In four matches he has scored 8 fine tries, 5 more than anyone else in the competition. Powering down the left wing he has a long gait, this enables him to lung from meters out and reach the try. Speed is also on his side, as well as the backs housework he does, he is always there to mop up when his sides line is broken and his cover D is tireless. This work ethic adds a might element to his weaponry, with or without the ball he is an asset.

The 30-man squad features the return of world-class captain and flanker Richie McCaw, he has been MIA of late and the All Blacks squad has lacked the guidance system.

In another showing of the stepping stone that the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup provides, four JAB players will be present as cover when the All Blacks have a training camp in Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday. They are Wellington utility back Tamati Ellison, Canterbury first five-eighth Stephen Brett, Canterbury prop Ben Franks and North Harbour outside back Anthony Tuitavake.

Speaking in Fiji the JAB’s captain Tamati Ellison spoke of the long season and said “I am really looking forward to getting home and seeing my 9 month old baby”. Life could not be better for Ellison now, this weekend he gets to hold and hang out with his little son, then he heads into the camp of dreams for all Kiwi kids.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry was under no illusions how challenging this year's Tri-Nations would be. "It's going to be a huge contest right from the first test," he said.

"But this group of players has the resolve and the character to meet that challenge head on so we are expecting it to be another massive competition between the three top-ranked countries in world rugby."

The All Blacks open the tournament against Australia in Auckland on July 18.

The squad is:
Backs: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Luke McAlister, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard

Forwards Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Tanerau Latimer, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Jason Eaton, Isaac Ross, Bryn Evans, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Aled de Malmanche.