Richard Loe: Signals scrambled in tangled communications

Mils Muliaina. Photo / Paul Estcourt

For the life of me, I can't understand the All Blacks selectors choosing three injured players with little or no chance of playing against Ireland on Saturday.

Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui and Tom Donnelly are all unlikely to front and the obvious question is: why were they selected in the first place?

What's wrong with a phone call to say: "Gee, we wanted to select you but you're injured and haven't played enough rugby. But don't worry - you're still the player we want in that position when you're right." I mean, what could be simpler?

You couldn't say selecting them was a ploy to keep them on side or to stop them rushing off overseas - they're injured. All you need is communication. Why not select replacements - like Sam Whitelock for Donnelly - from the beginning, especially when it was obvious Donnelly wouldn't make it?

Maybe there is some deep psychological reason that is beyond all of us.

Speaking of communication, I thought some of Graham Henry's comments smacked of sour grapes when he said that players should be careful when signing contracts, as he had wanted to select one bloke who turned out to have committed to playing overseas.

I understand that player was Canterbury and Crusaders hooker Ti'i Paulo, who played very well at the end of the Super 14 but is now off to Clermont in France. I thought our selectors are supposed to be the people who keep in touch with those going overseas. How come they didn't know?

As for players, all they have to do is structure their contracts properly. Callum Bruce, from the Chiefs, had an "out" clause in his contract that allowed him to remain in New Zealand if he was chosen for the All Blacks. That's using your brain.

Still on communication, I also heard that new boy Aaron Cruden didn't know he was about to be chosen. He'd spoken to the selectors, apparently, but not about whether he was in. Piri Weepu also didn't know, apparently.

So I've got to say the selectors' communication policy is beyond me - as is the philosophy of choosing players who can't actually play.

Talking about hookers, Paulo's exclusion explains Aled de Malmanche's presence in the All Black squad.

However, if you apply the coaches' selection policy, you'd pick Corey Flynn, as he has more experience but has been injured and has had only a couple of club games. See what I mean? It does your head in ...

De Malmanche might get around the field well and take the ball up well, as Steve Hansen suggests, but his main role is to throw the ball in straight at the lineout - and de Malmanche has struggled with that.

Still on hookers, I can't believe Dane Coles is in the Maori side and Hika Elliot isn't. He must have done something really wrong to be on the outer like that.

However, all that said, the All Black test team will still be a good one. The Irish will be strong and they will be hopeful of an upset but our test 22 still seems pretty good to me.

The areas of intrigue are the back three, second-five and whether they will risk Cruden as a first five back-up or, as everyone thinks, they'll use Weepu for that.

Hope someone communicates that to him.