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DUBLIN - Fatherhood has created havoc with Mils Muliaina's rest patterns, but the new arrival to the All Blacks' rugby Grand Slam bid is not losing sleep over an imminent return to test action against Ireland.
The fullback's buildup to Sunday morning's (NZT) test against the Irish here at Croke Park has been different in terms of the game time he has logged in preparation.
Since the All Blacks retained the Tri-Nations title in Brisbane on September 13, Muliaina has played just once at provincial level, in Waikato's quarterfinal loss to Hawke's Bay in the Air NZ Cup.
He then played 40 minutes of a trial game when a wider training group assembled in Auckland before the tour party departed for Hong Kong on October 27.
Told by team management he could delay his departure until he became a first-time father, Muliaina then revised plans to travel to Hong Kong two days before the Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies on November 1 because his son had been diagnosed with a minor heart defect.
The parental leave was extended to encompass last weekend's 32-6 victory over Scotland, Muliaina leaving Auckland on Friday reassured his son's treatment plan had been mapped out.
"I was pretty keen on coming over on the Thursday (to Hong Kong) but we had a few complications with him. He's got a little hole in his heart so he's going to get patched up in three or four weeks time.
"It sounds pretty scary but when you realise it's pretty common it's not so bad. To the surgeon it (the procedure) is just like putting a cast on."
Muliaina enjoyed his first deep sleep since Max's arrival on the long haul flight via Hong Kong and was reunited with his teammates yesterday en route to the Irish capital.
The All Blacks' most experienced back had already stretched his legs since arriving in London on Saturday afternoon (local time) and had no qualms about his fitness heading into what shapes as one of the All Blacks' toughest assignments in Europe.
"I'm pretty refreshed to be honest," the 65-cap veteran said after the All Blacks trained for the first time near their rural retreat west of the city centre.
"I still trained at home in between bottles and nappies - it's not the same but I'm excited. Mentally, being kept away from it (rugby) for a while has been good."
Muliaina, an automatic selection in the All Blacks' top 15, has played nine of the 12 possible tests this year and will feature in some capacity when an anticipated near full-strength team are named tomorrow (2.30am Wednesday NZT).
He was relaxed at the prospect of rejoining the side, despite playing less in the lead-up to a test match than during any other period in his international career.
"I've just got to go out there and not really think of the (lack of) physical time I've had and just back my instincts.
"Hopefully I've done enough on the field at home to come over here and do the business."
Muliaina observed the All Blacks' wins over Australia and Scotland and was suitably impressed with the second-half fight back in Hong Kong, and particularly an inexperienced team's success at Murrayfield.
"It was a young side that went out there and they beat them convincingly, now the guys picked this weekend have to step up again."
For all the Scots' physicality and passion in the forward exchanges, Muliaina thought the Irish would offer a more threatening attacking edge with the likes of first five-eighth Ronan O'Gara and centre Brian O'Driscoll able to set up an exciting set of outside backs.
The composition of the Irish back three is one of the imponderables before new Irish coach Declan Kidney also names his side tomorrow from their training base in Limerick.
Keith Earl's impressive debut during last weekend's 55-0 drubbing of Canada could see the Munster fullback retained although Kidney has the experienced duo of Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy to consider.
Wing is also congested with Tommy Bowe, Shane Horgan and Rob Kearney apparently vying for two spots, although the latter prefers fullback.
A man-of-the-match performance by blindside flanker Stephen Ferris against the Canadians adds an another element to the selection of a back row likely to be tasked with combating the All Blacks' first-choice trio of Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino.
Alan Quinlan is the other blindside option while Kidney might opt for duel opensides to double team McCaw, in which case Shane Jennings and David Wallace might combine with No 8 Jamie Heaslip.
- NZPA
