Holah out in the cold

Betrayed would probably come closest to describing how Marty Holah is feeling right now.

The Waikato flanker has gone to ground at his house in Mount Maunganui to reflect on how it was the New Zealand Rugby Union put an astonishing offer in front of him a few weeks ago, only for the All Black selectors to once again tell him he was no longer wanted.

It's easy to see why Holah is feeling the way he is. He was off contract at the end of the year and had attracted the attention of a number of European clubs.

According to friends, the 29-year-old knew his opportunities at test level would be limited as long as the imperious Richie McCaw continued to draw breath.

Given his age, Holah also knew that it was now or never in terms of going overseas. European clubs would pay top dollar for a 29-year-old current All Black. The price would drop significantly if they were buying a 31-year-old former All Black.

But Holah didn't want to fully explore his options elsewhere until he had tried to nut out a deal with the NZRU.

His agent made contact and said Holah was keen to stay, would the NZRU like to tender an offer?

The reply was an emphatic "yes" and a generous contract was put in front of Holah. He had no hesitation signing, believing he was still very much in the test frame.

He knew there was no guarantee he'd be taken away to the UK. But he'd been recalled to the squad before the end of the Lions series and was retained for the Tri Nations.

The experiment of using Rodney So'oialo as a back-up openside had been shelved. It seemed the selectors had concluded that specialist cover was in fact necessary after all.

That change of heart and a few positive noises were enough to persuade Holah he was doing the right thing putting pen to paper.

And then last week his phone rang. It was the same dreaded "Look Marty, we've got some bad news," call he had received before the squad for the Lions series was announced.

It had been a tight call but Chris Masoe, not Holah, would be going to the UK. If it had been a straightforward case of hearing how Masoe was the number two openside behind McCaw, it would have made life easier for Holah. He could swallow that, live with the fact his income would be reduced by a third as a consequence, and move on. That wasn't the message, though. There was no suggestion he was doing anything wrong and no directive to improve specific aspects of his game.

They just wanted to try something else and had Holah's number in case they changed their minds.

Holah is now sensing that he is a rainy day All Black - a reliable and trusted performer who can be called in at short notice if the preferred alternatives somehow fall down.

It's maybe taking him for granted. The thinking seems to be that because Holah has committed to New Zealand for another two years and wants to honour that contract, if a few more test caps come his way, he'll take them for sure.

But the question is - and it is a question Holah didn't want to answer this week - how long before he tires of a yo-yo All Black existence and starts thinking a move overseas wouldn't be so bad after all?

Maybe that day will never come. Maybe it will come after the Super 14 next season or the NPC. One thing is for sure, though - if Holah does seek an early release, it won't be to a chorus of dismay.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY