Soccer: Fallon is Herbert's weapon of choice

Rory Fallon. Photo / Getty Images

Standing 1.91M and weighing 90kg, it's not surprising Rory Fallon is a handful. The All Whites striker literally stands out in a crowd.

But what has been more eye-catching is what he has done since Fifa changed their eligibility rules last year and let Fallon play for the country of his birth.

Yesterday he scored his third goal in seven internationals and was a general menace in Slovenia's 3-1 defeat of New Zealand.

His first goal came on debut against Jordan last September and his second entered the folklore of New Zealand sport - the winner against Bahrain that secured World Cup qualification.

Yesterday's strike was a clinically taken left-foot volley that beat the Slovenian goalkeeper low to his left. Technically, it was excellent.

A lot of New Zealand's game plan is built around Fallon. They are playing a direct game that sees balls launched forward in the tall striker's general direction.

"In all three [warm-up] games he's been top drawer," coach Ricki Herbert said. "He's done extremely well. Tonight he was very strong and played his part.

"[The opposition] will have to try [to shut him down]. He's a handful. He's proved that. He's played against one of the best centre halves in the world in [Serbia's Nemanja] Vidic and he struggled with him.

"He's a good weapon and is excellent for us in that front third. Players work off him. The goals we have been scoring have been quite similar. I think he will be a handful for anybody."

It means opposition sides will watch Fallon closely. Minimise his effectiveness, they will say, and it blunts New Zealand. Sadly, it also means referees will also keep a close eye on him.

Fallon is very good in the air but tends to go up with his arms extended. Even though he is stronger and better in the air than his opponent, a referee often just sees the arms and penalises him.

There was one instance yesterday when he jumped early and easily won the header but was penalised because he was on top of his opposite. It was a harsh decision because his technique was an illustration of exactly what a top striker should do.

"I thought some of the free-kicks were really soft," Fallon said. "Anywhere else, like in England, that's play on. Some of the stuff was diabolical. But you have to get on with it. That's the way it goes sometimes."

Winston Reid is another who needs to ensure he isn't singled out by referees. The free kick that led to yesterday's second goal might have been extremely soft, but defenders can't afford to put their hands on an opponent, especially around the box.

Yesterday showed just how harshly they will be punished.