Rugby Union: Brooke forced to retire hurt: Pack reshuffle the only cloud on tourists' horizon

SURPRISING as it may seem, it is not all good news for the All Blacks. Sporting a perfect record they may be, but in perfect health, no. Robin Brooke, the Test lock forward, will take no part in the tour after aggravating his calf muscle injury.

Brooke, a certainty to partner Ian Jones in the second row in the Tests against Scotland and England, was named in tomorrow's side to play Scotland A in Glasgow, but has been told to rest completely for a month. The reshuffle this will force upon the tourists' Test plans is one of the few problems they face. Brooke originally tore the muscle a month ago and then aggravated it during training in the first week of the tour.

The beneficiary of Brooke's injury is Blair Larsen, who was brought over as stand-by, and who will now officially rejoin the squad of 30.

The All Blacks named a side with a strong Test feel to it for the game against Scotland A, with Marc Ellis, the converted centre, continuing at stand-off, where he partners Stu Forster, who has had an impressive tour so far and is challenging the incumbent, Jon Preston, strongly.

Laurie Mains, the New Zealand coach, continued to extoll the virtues of Scottish rugby, even after watching his team rip the best district side to shreds on Wednesday. Asked if he expected spoiling tactics for the rest of their Scottish stay, he said: 'I have no worries on that score. That's not the way the Scots play their rugby.'

NEW ZEALAND (v Scotland A, Glasgow, tomorrow): J Timu; J Wilson (Otago), F Bunce (North Harbour), M Cooper (Waikato), V Tuigamala (Auckland); M Ellis (Otago), S Forster (Otago); O Brown (Auckland), S Fitzpatrick (capt), C Dowd (Auckland), AN Other, I Jones (North Auckland), P Henderson (Southland), A Pene, J Joseph (Otago),

Australia turned on the power in the second half to come from

16-15 down to beat the French Barbarians 43-26 in the last game of their tour in Clermont-Ferrand, yesterday. Typically, the last try in the last minute was scored by David Campese. Nick Farr-Jones, the former Australian captain, played for the Barbarians, while Marty Roebuck collected 26 points for the Australians.