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So'oialo on bench but Tialata misses out

Players/Officials Brad Thorn

Tournaments/Tours New Zealand Cup

Teams New Zealand | Tasman

Tasman's chances of reaching the Air NZ Cup rugby semifinals received a significant boost today in the form of willing debutant Brad Thorn.

The All Blacks lock will be included in the Tasman squad to play Canterbury for the first of four quarterfinals in Christchurch on Friday night. His inclusion will add steel to a forward pack that has performed admirably in recent weeks and provides an interesting match-up against fellow Crusaders locks Isaac Ross and Michael Paterson.

Thorn reportedly told Tasman coach Todd Blackadder he was desperate to make his maiden appearance for the province once he fulfilled a stand-down period following the All Blacks triumphant Tri-Nations campaign. It was originally thought Thorn, 33, would not turn out for the province because of the compulsory rest he was told to undertake following New Zealand's series-clinching victory in Brisbane on September 13.

But that changed once Tasman qualified for the playoffs. Friday's match also provides Thorn with a useful competitive hitout before the All Blacks embark on their fourth and final Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Hong Kong and the subsequent tour of Britain and Ireland.

However, Thorn's first-choice test locking partner Ali Williams -- who transferred to Tasman in order to be eligible for the Crusaders this year -- will not be available due to an ankle injury. Williams, who moves back to Auckland and the Blues next season, is destined never to turn out for Tasman.

News of Thorn's determination to play was gratefully received by Tasman management and represented a rare positive considering the in-fighting dogging the cash-strapped amalgamation between Nelson Bays and Marlborough.

"He's jumping out of his skin to play for us. That's great," team manager John Caldwell told NZPA today. "With enthusiasm like that we're not going to dampen it, we're more than happy to take him."

Thorn made his way to Nelson today for his first -- and only -- training session tomorrow before returning to Christchurch with the squad on Thursday. His imminent debut is bad news for at least one of the starting locks or reserves who ensured Tasman made the playoffs by beating Manawatu 36-7 in Palmerston North last Saturday.

Either Alex Ainley or Will Crutchley are likely to lose their position in the starting 15, with Thorn indicating he is eager to start against the province he won the 2004 NPC with before returning to rugby league.

Caldwell said while it was unfortunate for the player who made way, they could not ignore a player of Thorn's calibre. "At the end of the day you put out the team that's going to win. Anyone stepping aside for Brad Thorn would be bloody happy to say they've been dropped for him," he said.

Tasman name their 22-man squad tomorrow.

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