Test farewell for prop

All Black management were coy when asked about Somerville's international future following the confirmation of the side to face the Wallabies in Brisbane.

The 65-test veteran is set to take up a lucrative contract with Gloucester in England once he comes off contract with the NZRU later this year.

Head coach Graham Henry says he was unsure if Somerville would be considered for the All Blacks' season-ending tour, including the Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong.

He said as the tour was six weeks in duration, it might be best to go with someone else who did not have an off-field distraction such as Somerville's off-shore shift to worry about.

But he said that might change if it was deemed there was a shortage of test-class props to tour.

Forwards coach Steve Hansen said Somerville would be missed from the All Black environment when he moved on.

He said he would leave big boots to fill, both on and off the field.

"He is the most-capped in New Zealand history," Hansen said.

"Just to achieve that is a huge contribution on its own.

"But I think there is more to it than that. I think his ability off the field as a leader is immense.

"That is the big gap we will have to fill once he leaves.

"He has been around probably 10 years at this level, and at Super 14, and he has a marvelous career. I wish him all the best when he heads overseas."

Last Wednesday's 101-14 win over Manu Samoa was Somerville's final test on home soil.

Given Somerville's pending departure from New Zealand shores, the All Black coaching staff might opt to a new prop instead of taking the most-capped All Black prop on tour.

He said in the lead-up to the Samoan test that he tried to block out any emotional significance of the Samoan test.

"Not really when I walked off. I suppose it crosses your mind a wee bit," Somerville said.

"But I know there's still a job to do in Aussie so I haven't dwelled on things too much."

He said his concentration at the moment was finishing off the Tri Nations strongly, saying while the score-line was hugely one-sided in New Plymouth, the match had served a good purpose.

Somerville became the most-capped All Black prop of all-time earlier this year, passing the previous record set by Craig Dowd of 58 tests. Dowd played a further two tests at hooker.

Somerville's test tally would have been much-higher if not for an injury-plagued two seasons in 2006 and 2007, including rupturing his Achilles tendon and then suffering an eye injury in the lead-up to last year's World Cup.

Meanwhile, fellow prop John Afoa will have until later this week to prove his fitness.

The Auckland prop has been struggled with a shoulder injury, bracketed on the bench with Wellington's Neemia Tialata.

"John Afoa still has a bit of a niggle," Henry said.

"We will just see how he comes through the next couple of days. He is pretty good, we are expecting him to be available for selection.

"We just have to make a decision there."