KEY POINTS:
HONG KONG - He may have hardly played since a potentially career-defining test rugby cameo, but Stephen Donald at least has the security of time on his side before his latest Bledisloe Cup adventure.
Donald, Daniel Carter's designated understudy this season, had a pleasant surprise when he arrived in Hong Kong early yesterday - confirmation he and Carter will share the limelight against Australia at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday.
The Waikato pivot will start in his preferred position for the first time in what will be his seventh test, after All Blacks management opted for the same five-eighths' formation that ended New Zealand's successful retention the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations title in Brisbane last month.
All Blacks head coach Graham Henry said the motivation for starting Carter in midfield for the first time in four years was two-fold - Donald and Carter were lacking game time so the deployment of two "navigators" was necessary.
The contrasting right and left-footed kicking options offered by the pair would also help guide the rusty All Blacks through what is expected to be another tactical kicking battle against Robbie Deans' Wallabies.
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith thought Australia's likely naming of Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes at Hong Kong Stadium meant New Zealand needed two playmakers - at the expense of Ma'a Nonu, who had started every test this season.
The selection amounted to another vote of confidence in Donald, who was cast as Carter's deputy after Nick Evans joined the drift north to Harlequins and Stephen Brett's form tailed off.
Smith thought Donald's experience at Suncorp Stadium could prove the making of the 25-year-old after the player initially viewed the assignment with trepidation.
"If you heard his interviews after Brisbane, he was hell of a surprised to go at such a critical time," Smith said.
"He thought he might come on with 10 to go maybe but to run a game for 30 minutes when we were 17-7 down ..... to me he showed his mettle.
"We know he's got x-factor - and what I like about him is if things go wrong he'll make a big play or he'd kick that crucial goal. He gets himself composed."
Smith said Donald would be comforted to be given more notice this time.
"I think he'll be happier than coming on with 30 minutes to go in the crunch game of the season - it was a bit of a shock to him."
Donald, like Carter, is coming into the fourth and final transtasman stoush of 2008 relatively cold but Smith was confident the pair were capable of stepping up as the All Blacks seek the ideal springboard for their Grand Slam attempt.
A late addition to Waikato's campaign, Donald did not see out his only start, crying off with damaged rib cartilage but Smith felt the feel-good factor from Brisbane would endure.
The Donald-Carter combination was also prefaced during the trial match against the New Zealand Barbarians in Auckland last Wednesday, giving them some time to develop an understanding.
Smith said kicking coach Mick Byrne had been crucial in developing Donald's game.
"He's turned him into a bloody good kicker," Smith said.
"He hasn't changed his style but he's quickened it up - from hand to foot he's quicker - he doesn't get the charge downs he used to."
The All Blacks had their first training session of an abbreviated week less than eight hours after the arrived from Auckland, with new cap Hosea Gear relishing the experience.
New fathers Mils Muliaina and Ross Filipo join the squad by tomorrow at the latest. Fullback Muliaina was named in the starting 15 and faces a short preparation time with Friday's captain's run possibly his only chance to train with the team.
The Wallabies name their team tomorrow.
- NZPA
