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The Lure of Home

In our February/March issue last year, we carried a feature that speculated on how many of the 2007 World Cup squad would return home in time to challenge for a place in the All Blacks’ 2011 campaign. More than 13 months on, we look at what we said last year and update on movements and have suggested a few other former All Blacks who may yet come into the reckoning for next year’s tournament.

Monday, 29 March 2010

Gregor Paul

Luke McAlister

Current Situation: Contracted with NZRU until 2012.

Situation March 2009: Contracted to Sale.

NZRW Said: He was 50:50 chance of returning.

Were We Right? We were, but we could have been bolder.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad?

Since returning to New Zealand in June, McAlister has struggled for form. He was unfortunate to pick up a serious knee injury in February 2008 which meant he returned to New Zealand having barely played for the previous three months.

The All Black selectors then made the mistake of rushing him back into the test squad when he was undercooked and lacking in confidence. To compound matters, they asked him to play in his less favoured position – first five. He couldn’t find his rhythm or form and was caught in a vicious cycle where the more he played, the harder he tried and the worse he got leading to his confidence free-falling.

A broken cheekbone in August set him back further but the All Black coaches retained their faith and selected McAlister for the end of season tour which is a giant clue that they are going to back him long term.

They have been patient and they remain confident that McAlister is a world class option at second five.

He is in a strong position, then, to make the 2011 World Cup squad but he will have to perform this year – he can’t live off the selectors’ goodwill indefinitely.

 

Carl Hayman

Current Situation: Contracted to Newcastle until June 2010.

Situation March 2009: As above.

NZRW Said: He was almost certain to return.

Were We Right: At the time of going to print we couldn’t say for certain, but Hayman is almost certain to return having spoken at length about unfinished business and his desire to play for the All Blacks again.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad?

Assuming he does indeed sign a contract to return, he is a definite for the All Black World Cup campaign Don’t pencil him in – fetch an indelible marker and use that.

Hayman remains the missing piece in this current All Black team. He is the rock upon which they will build their scrummaging. Neemia Tialata is improving and Owen Franks is a great prospect, but Hayman is a proven world class performer with big miles on the clock.

A few years in England will have done him no harm as the game there is all about the set-piece and he will have been challenged every week in the scrums. He has also been captain of Newcastle this season and has obviously matured as a leader.

At the peak of their powers in 2005 and 2006 the All Blacks were a fearsome scrummaging unit. They could use that facet of their game to build pressure and disrupt opposition possession. It became mentally sapping for teams to play them and the confidence the backs took knowing they would get front foot ball from the scrum gave them immeasurable confidence.

Graham Henry met with Hayman on last year’s All Black tour and made it clear he wanted his tight-head prop back. Hayman in only 29 – 2011 is his time.

 

Doug Howlett

Current Situation: Contracted with Munster until June 2011

Situation March 2009: As Above.

NZRW Said: He was not a particularly high chance of coming home.

Were We Right? Bit on the conservative side. He has settled well in Ireland and won a Heineken Cup –which is why he has decided to sign a one-year extension on his Munster contract.

He enjoys exploring Europe and feels he hasn’t done enough and also pushing him towards staying in Ireland is the massive tax break he will receive should he retire there. It’s also possible that he might consider a switch to France or Italy after next year.

However, let’s not forget there is unfinished business for Howlett. He sat in the stands during that quarter-final when really, everyone knows he should have been playing. The other big factor to consider is the way the game has changed.

Howlett rebuilt his game from out and out finisher to being more of an auxiliary fullback who could take high balls, kick and tackle. He is perfect for the current rules and his experience could be critical.

Throw in the fact that he’s a natural leader, a dedicated professional with good values and the All Black selectors know him well and like him. But he’s pretty much signalled he’s not coming home to give it a crack.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad?

Theoretically there are two big hurdles to overcome here. First, Howlett has to sign a contract to come home. He would have to finish with Munster in May next year and then somehow, scrape into All Black contention between June and September. That’s going to be next to impossible.

Never mind his lack of desire or the tight deadlines, he would be in direct competition with Sitiveni Sivivatu, Cory Jane, Ben Smith and Zac Guildford with others such as Joe Rokocoko (if he stays until then), Hosea Gear, Rudi Wulf and Lelia Masaga all hoping for a game, too.

Howlett can look at the current crop and feel confident he can still make a contribution. His performances for Munster have been outstanding.

He reads the game better than ever and is a confident and skilled operator under the high ball. His pace hasn’t obviously dwindled rendering arguments about his age – he’ll turn 33 during the World Cup – redundant.

He is the leading All Black try scorer in history and vastly experienced. He could be a very handy option to have in the squad. But for the fact he has said goodbye to that part of his life and isn’t likely to come home in time.

 

Byron Kelleher

Current Situation: Contracted with Toulouse.

Situation March 2009: As above.

NZRW Said: Slim – possible rather than probable.

Were We Right? Not really. Kelleher, despite saying he would be interested in a return, is not giving it serious thought. He loves life in Toulouse, he’s ticked the World Cup box three times and has moved on.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad? None. Kelleher has many outside interests now and seems more interested in building Bryon Kelleher Inc. He was in deep trouble last year for an altercation that involved a car crash and then a fight.

 

Chris Jack

Current Situation: Contracted with NZRU until 2011.

Situation March 2009: Contracted to Saracens.

NZRW Said: He was virtually no chance of coming home.

Were We Right? We couldn’t have been more wrong on this one. Shortly after the February/March issue hit the shelves it was revealed that Jack and 14 other senior Saracens players were told they were no longer wanted. The club changed ownership and Jack’s face no longer fitted.

There was some shenanigans after that when the club’s new owners discovered they couldn’t actually afford to pay out all the players they were releasing early but the damage was done.

Saracens helped Jack tee-up a short-term contract with Western Province in the Currie Cup and with no real idea what to do next, his confidence dented by the way he was treated and his appetite rekindled for test football, Jack signed a contract with the NZRU.

From seemingly having called it quits, he was now determined to win back an All Black jersey and will play for the Crusaders.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad? Everything depends on his form and whether he still has what it takes to cut it at the highest level.

He is younger than Victor Matfield so forget the ‘he’s too old’ line. What we don’t know is whether he can still rule the lineout and whether he can still get about the paddock. That was his game of old.

It also has to be remembered that he was slipping down the All Black pecking order before he left in 2007. He was another who didn’t make the starting XV for the quarter-final.

But in his favour he has 67 test caps and doubts about the squad’s two most experienced locks – Ali Williams and Brad Thorn. Williams as we know is out for at least another six months while Thorn plays month to month never knowing whether his aging body will suddenly pack up.

If one or either of those two doesn’t make it to 2011 then Jack is a great chance – the All Blacks will need his experience.

 

Aaron Mauger

Current Situation: About to sign with NZRU

Situation March 2009: Contracted to Leicester.

NZRW Said: He was a fairly good chance of returning.

Were We Right? Mostly, although, to be fair, we did hedge our bets by suggesting he would be tempted to stay at Leicester. The key to Mauger’s decision – as we said last year – is the age of his kids, the eldest of whom is at school. There was always a strong possibility of the Mauger’s heading home to educate their children in New Zealand. It’s funny, but the British school system doesn’t inspire confidence among parents and Mauger and his wife clearly felt that way.

On the rugby side of things, just like Howlett and Jack, Mauger didn’t start in the 2007 quarter-final and that irked him. He left New Zealand at a young age deliberately so as the option of returning home and seriously challenging for an All Black place remained realistic.

The only question now is whether his body can hold up. At the time of going to print he’d been made an offer but was unsure about it because his back and groin are troubling him and it’s possible he might have to retire.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad? The truth is that the All Blacks have missed Mauger’s intelligent, subtle football in the midfield. Ma’a Nonu has matured and given them physical presence, but he’s not a ball-playing second five in the way Mauger is.

What Mauger brings is vision, strong communication and a kicking game. He is composed on the ball, distributes well and when his confidence is high, he attacks holes.

The fact he is very different to Nonu and also to McAlister gives him appeal. What we don’t know is how his time in England has affected him. Is he still sharp enough to cope with the speed and intensity of Super 14? Can he control games the way he used to?

If the All Black selectors can be sold on that, then he’ll come very close to being pushed into the mix. And, of course, his body will have to hold up.

 

Greg Somerville

Current Situation: Contracted with Gloucester until June 2010.

Situation March 2009: As above.

NZRW Said: He was a long shot as he had only just arrived in England.

Were We Right? We were more non-committal than correct. Somerville remains vague about his intentions but as he revealed to New Zealand Rugby World in December, the Gloucester experience has had its challenges and he hasn’t ruled anything in or out. He’s talked to the NZRU about coming home but not in any great detail. He’s another with time on his side as, even though he has been around forever, he’s only 31.

When he left at the end of 2008 he was in the form of his life. The big question for him are whether he’s had enough time away from New Zealand to rekindle his batteries. If he came back, effectively 20 months after leaving, would he feel he’d given it long enough? And if Hayman is coming back and Tony Woodock is still here, will Somerville be super keen about most likely taking up a place on the bench?

The prospect of a World Cup in New Zealand will appeal but he’ll also be offered big money by any of the big French clubs as they love a hardened prop especially one who can play on both sides of the scrum.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad? Again, the bigger challenge is getting him back here in time. If he does, then he’ll make it. No question.

Somerville is strong, mobile and experienced – everything a prop should be. He can play both sides and he brings a team attitude.

Hayman and Woodcock would make the squad as certainties and then it would be a case of choosing between Tialata, Franks, John Afoa, Wyatt Crockett, Jamie Mackintosh and anyone else who might crawl out of the woodwork.

From that list, Somerville would definitely be in.

 

Nick Evans

Current Situation: Contracted with Harlequins until 2011.

Situation March 2009: As above

NZRW Said: The chances of him returning were nil.

Were We Right? Absolutely. Evans is totally committed to Harlequins. A point he made clear in his most recent interview when he said: “I’m not sure what the parameters are of getting out of it [Harlequins contract], or even going down that road. At the moment I am fully committed and it would take something really drastic for me to even consider walking away from Harlequins. I am very happy here.

What Chance of making 2011 WC Squad? Very slim indeed. The only way it could happen is if the All Blacks beg him to come home in June 2011 and then parachute him straight into their set-up.

 

 

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