All Blacks: Leonard feeling confident

Brendon Leonard said 'Every time you put on the All Blacks jersey you've got a legacy to uphold.' Photo / Getty Images

The last time All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard set foot on Millennium Stadium, he trudged off with his teammates trying to comprehend how their rugby World Cup was over.

Two years on, and it's been more tough times for the combative Waikato man as he eyes his 13th test, against Wales.

Since that fateful defeat to France, when he came on as a replacement, Leonard missed the entire 2008 test season and this year started only twice, against Italy in Christchurch and South Africa in Bloemfontein.

A mid-season crisis of confidence followed as Jimmy Cowan continued his run as first choice No 9. But now with the All Blacks coaches reverting to rotation and a sink-or-swim mentality, Leonard gets his chance, knowing there's plenty riding on it.

"Every time you put on the All Blacks jersey you've got a legacy to uphold and you've got to do the jersey proud and if you're not up to the level, you get found out pretty quickly," he said.

"There's always pressure, you've got to use it to your advantage and let it drive you."

Midway through the year Leonard was struggling and harboured doubts about whether he'd be here at all. But some strong late-season efforts for Waikato kept him in the frame and earned him his first end-of-year tour.

"I picked up a couple of injuries at the end of Super 14 and I struggled to come back from those, and when I did I wasn't playing very well, trying a bit too much and trying to stamp my mark on the game rather than getting into the flow of things.

"I've probably learned a lot more this year than I did two years ago.

"Everyone goes through ebbs and flows in confidence and I'm one of those this year, battling with a confidence problem halfway through the year.

"But I was pretty happy with how I went in a few games for Waikato and there's no reason why I can't go in feeling pretty confident."

Leonard is one of six changes for the Wales test, with other fringe starters like Wyatt Crockett, Jason Eaton, Jerome Kaino and Zac Guildford all earning a crack.

Crockett, at 1.93m and 112kg a cornerstone of the Crusaders' scrum, has required even more patience.

Since his debut on his home ground against Italy in June, there's been an eternal wait for his second cap. Suspension to frontline loosehead Tony Woodcock offered a chance this week.

"It's been a little bit tough having to wait for my second test, but it makes it all that much more special," he said.

Crockett said there was plenty of intense scrum work this week after they were disappointed with their work on the Wallabies' feed in Tokyo.

And his own research on his opposite number, Paul James, has been severely restricted through lack of data. James will play just his second test, six years after his debut, and his recent club matches were at loosehead.

"What he does is one thing, but I've got to make sure all my stuff's in order and go out there and execute it.

"You've got to back yourself and have a good crack but I don't see him as being a weakness, that's for sure."

- NZPA