 McAlister will win his sixth cap for New Zealand on Saturday |
All Blacks fly-half Luke McAlister will face Ireland in Saturday's first Test despite an irregular heartbeat problem. McAlister, who starts in Hamilton with Dan Carter rested, admitted he was a "bit scared" when the problem flared up earlier this week.
"The doc (doctor Deb Robinson) was with me the whole time so there was nothing to be worried about," McAlister said.
"She said it was nothing too major. The previous one I had for half an hour, this one went on for a bit longer."
Robinson accompanied McAlister to hospital where treatment helped him get his heart back to normal.
"If it comes again we will deal with it the best way possible and I just not try to think about it really," he said.
 | Ireland have changed a lot from the days when we used to give them a good hiding |
Robinson revealed it is unlikely the problem would occur in a game as it appears to be triggered when McAlister is in a resting state. "It has never happened during a game," she said.
"He had the problem two years ago and he has played a lot of footy in the last two years and it has never happened in a game so that would be quite a long way down the list of causes really."
With first-choice fly-half Carter set to wait until New Zealand play Argentina on 24 June to start his international season, McAlister has a chance to confirm his status as the top understudy at number 10.
"It's going to be huge game, a good one for all of us and a good way to start off the season," McAlister said.
"Ireland have changed a lot from the days when we used to give them a good, fair hiding.
"They're using the ball a lot better and are unpredictable as well. It's definitely going to be a tough game."
The All Blacks have decided not to perform their controversial new haka with a throat-slitting climax ahead of Saturday's first Test, and will revert to their traditional haka. The New Zealand Rugby Union asked them to drop the new version - which has been performed twice before - until they review its use following criticism of the throat-cutting gesture.
"There is a concern out there from some people," said NZRU chief executive Chris Moller. "I don't know whether that's a majority or a minority."
Team manager Darren Shand said the All Blacks had not bowed to pressure from union offficials but that new players needed time to prepare for leading it following the retirement of former captain Tana Umaga.
"Tana did a magnificent job and it's taking them a while to get their timing right," Shand said.
New Zealand team: Muliaina; Howlett, Nonu, Mauger, Rokocoko; McAlister, Kelleher; Dermody, Mealamu, Hayman; Jack, Rawlinson, Holah, McCaw (captain), So'oialo.
Replacements: Hamilton, Hill, Cowan, Kaino, Flavell, Tialata, Oliver.
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