All Blacks: Weepu's impact priceless - Henry

Halfback Piri Weepu has become a specialist impact player since forcing his way back into the All Blacks last year. Photo / Getty Images

Piri Weepu has been anointed New Zealand's best impact player, a status that will see him ride the pine in All Blacks rugby tests for the foreseeable future.

On return from injury, Brendon Leonard leapfrogged Weepu into the starting halfback role for Saturday's test against Italy in Christchurch, with Jimmy Cowan dropped from the 22.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said Weepu had not been promoted to start as he is now regarded as "a really good bench player", something he had accepted last year when team management discussed his best role.

The 25-year-old started in just one of his nine tests last year and the trend has continued in 2009, with introductions early in the second spell of the two tests against France. "I don't want to sound negative about that but he makes a huge difference coming off and playing the last 30," Henry said after naming his test team yesterday.

"He did it for us last year, he was usually our halfback substitute and he's doing it again this year."

Henry said that Weepu's strength was his ability to analyse games, identify where changes can best be made and then carrying it out late in the closing stages.

"He's got a good head for the game and he's helping us immensely with our tactical approach.

"It was the same with the Hurricanes (in this year's Super 14), when he came on for them, he opened up games."

Henry said Weepu had begrudgingly got in behind the concept, believing it was a measure of his class that he hadn't reacted negatively. He was also invaluable as the first five-eighth cover at a time when that position is thin at the top level in New Zealand.

"Any sportsman wants to start in the team situation. For us, at this point in time, I think it's better he comes on and makes a point of difference."

Since Weepu's debut in 2004, he has played 18 of his 31 tests off the reserve bench, climbing quickly to seventh on the all time list of All Blacks to have played the most tests as substitutes.

That list is headed by current hooker Keven Mealamu, on 25, a man who Henry nominated as the other obvious bench specialist in his squad.

"He's got great feet hasn't he? Defences get a bit tired in the last 20 so he's got that ability," Henry said of the 30-year-old, who was arguably New Zealand's best performer in Saturday's 14-10 defeat of France in Wellington.

Mealamu was so impressive that forwards coach Steve Hansen was now unsure who he rated as the All Blacks' premier rake, with the injured Andrew Hore having been the first-choice going into the French series.

"The problem we've got is that there are two world class hookers," Hansen said.

"(But) We think Kevvy's better coming off the bench than Andrew is."

The reserves nearly created just as much interest as the starting lineup - which has seven changes - when Henry announced his team yesterday for a test the All Blacks are strongly favoured to win.

Loose forward Liam Messam again misses his chance to atone for a mistake-ridden first test performance against France because the selectors need specialist openside flanker cover in the reserves.

That is filled by George Whitelock, one of three uncapped forwards on the bench alongside hooker Aled de Malmanche and prop Owen Franks.

There are two new caps to start - winger Lelia Masaga for Cory Jane and loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett for Tony Woodcock - while lock Ali Williams and Leonard make comebacks from injury.

Minor injuries to prop Neemia Tialata and centre Conrad Smith sees John Afoa and Isaia Toeava introduced.

The only unchanged sector of the All Blacks starting team are the raw loose forward trio, who Hansen was keen to see tried again after shining in the second French test.

All Blacks players used most as substitutes in test matches
24 - Keven Mealamu (67 tests)
22 - Marty Holah (36)
22 - Leon MacDonald (56)
22 - Byron Kelleher (57)
20 - Mark Hammett (29)
19 - Andrew Hore (37)
18 - Piri Weepu (31)
18 - Neemia Tialata (34)
18 - Greg Somerville (66)

International test leaders
43 - Ollie le Roux (South Africa, 54)
38 - Jeremy Paul (Australia, 72)
34 - Phil Waugh (Australia, 78)
29 - Matt Cockbain (Australia, 63)
29 - Salvatore Perugini (Italy, 62)
28 - David Humphreys (Ireland, 72)
28 - Albert van den Berg (South Africa, 51)

- NZPA