Injured Muliaina leaves All Blacks with selection problem against England

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New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina is a doubt for Saturday's first Test
against England after straining a hamstring in training.

Muliaina will be restricted to light training duties today and the All Black
medics will make a final decision on his availability to start at Eden Park
tomorrow.

As a precaution, New Zealand have called uncapped Highlanders full-back Paul
Williams - son of former All Black Bryan Williams - into the training squad.

Muliaina suffered hamstring problems at the 2007 World Cup and again throughout
the Super 14 season.

Training accident: New Zealand's Mils Muliaina carries the ball but could miss the Test against England

But All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith said: "We took Mils out of training
yesterday. He was getting a bit tight but I don't perceive there will be too
many problems."

New Zealand are not only attempting to beat England this Saturday but also earn
the backing of many fans who were left disgruntled by the All Blacks' World Cup
failure and the subsequent reappointment of Graham Henry as head coach.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew admitted this week the All
Blacks need to redouble their efforts to win back the "hearts and minds" of
the fans.

New Zealand were beaten in the World Cup quarter-final by France, their worst
ever performance.

But All Blacks lock Ali Williams believes the anti-Henry sentiment has got out
of hand.

"It gets to me how much you can attack one man," Williams said.

"I'm sure if he was 30 or 40 years younger he would have loved to have been
out there trying to do it himself. But the fact is he can't.

"You have to look at some of the ownership that has got to fall on us too as
players, we didn't score the points.

"You have freedom of speech, I have no problem with that and everyone can say
what they want to say but the guy (Henry) got the job.

"Either support rugby or don't support rugby and if you support it, well get
behind us (the All Blacks)."