Rugby: Mils may be feeling Blues

Muliaina has hinted at a return to Auckland. Photo / Philippe Lopez

Former All Black Mils Muliaina has hinted strongly that he would be keen to make a surprise comeback next year with the struggling Blues.

The 31-year-old is contracted to the NTT Docomo club in Japan which he joined after last year's World Cup. But he says he'd like to finish his playing career in New Zealand and could effectively see out his Japanese commitments and still feature for the Blues next season.

"Being in Japan and not having to go through that physicality stuff, my body feels a lot better than what it has," Muliaina said from Hong Kong, where he played last night for the BGC Asia-Pacific Barbarians against English team Saracens.

"I won't speculate on what's going to happen next year but I'd like to say that hopefully someone gives me a call and I'd go back. The shoulder's good and the door's always open."

Muliaina, who won his 100th cap for the All Blacks in last year's quarter-final - a game in which he also dislocated his shoulder - would bring the experience, stability and direction the Blues need. His game is based on his incredible low error rate, bravery on defence and ability to read the game. Between 2003 and 2010, Muliaina was an automatic choice for the All Blacks. Even throughout the rotation years leading into the 2007 World Cup, Muliaina was rarely rested.

He enjoyed, arguably, his best season as an All Black in 2010 when he was in sensational form and was named as an IRB World Player of the Year nominee. But he struggled with injury in 2011 and lost his starting place to Israel Dagg on the eve of the World Cup. But a season in the less physical Japanese league has given his body a chance to recover and helped rekindle his appetite for top-flight rugby.

"I'm enjoying the rugby in Japan. I'm enjoying the culture and the lifestyle as well.

"But the rugby's a bit different to what I'm used to in New Zealand," he said.

"I didn't expect to miss it as much as what I have. The first month or so was pretty tough. I sort of always thought I'd finish my rugby career in New Zealand.

"It's a stupid thing to say but you kind of miss the feeling that you've just been beaten up."

Muliaina will shortly turn 32 but is confident he's still got the physical and mental skills to handle Super Rugby. He began his career with the Blues, playing a key role for them in 2003 when they won the last of their three titles. He joined the Chiefs at the end of 2004, captaining them to their only final appearance in 2009.

With the Blues braced for a major cleanout of personnel that will definitely include Isaia Toeava and Lachie Munro, the need to find a quality fullback is pressing. Muliaina is also a close friend of Ma'a Nonu and the burly midfielder could be tempted to stay in Auckland if his former All Black team-mate commits to the franchise.

The prospect of attracting Muliaina and retaining Nonu is the first good news to come out of the Blues all season. There were also more encouraging noises being made by Piri Weepu earlier last week, that he might also be considering a longer stint in Auckland.

"I am a Wellingtonian but the Blues have been good to me," he said. "They have put up with a lot of stuff with me this year. I have got nowhere else to really go."