KEY POINTS:
It was an interesting strategy for the All Blacks to have three No 8s finishing last week's test in Sydney. Just in case you think I'm joshing, how does Rodney So'oialo, Jerome Kaino and Sione Lauaki sound?
Lauaki came on for the last half-hour of the first Bledisloe Cup clash to run through what may prove to be the final minutes of his All Black career. We don't need to labour the point because the burly looseforward will have suffered the most after a shabby 16th test.
There were those around the office willing to bet it was the worst performance by an All Black, while others suggested the All Black selectors had ignored the best No 8 in the country: Mose Tuiali'i. Those sort of debates are incredibly subjective and best sorted at a boozer anyway.
What those ideas do provoke, though, is discussion about the tortuous path Lauaki has trodden since he came on the radar at around the time the current All Black coaching panel started their tenure running the national side.
Lauaki was the star of a beaten Pacific Islanders side in 2004, someone the mighty Michael Jones _ who knows a thing or two about looseforward play _ suggested would be an invaluable acquisition for the All Blacks and should be included in their squad and nurtured for the rest of that season.
That never occurred, though Lauaki was picked the following season and has accrued 16 caps. But through a spotty four-year All Black career he has managed just just six starts.
If you consider Lauaki is either a No 8 or a blindside flanker, he has been edged out of those spots in the All Blacks by Xavier Rush, Jono Gibbes, Jerry Collins, Tuiali'i, Craig Newby, So'oialo, Stephen Bates, Kaino, Chris Masoe, Angus MacDonald, Marty Holah and Reuben Thorne since he was first brought into the squad.
Now, Lauaki is not everyone's idea of a hard-working, ultra-fit, mega-skilful looseforward _ but he does have that useful wrecking-ball presence. He was deemed valuable enough for the All Black selectors to pick him for a number of campaigns since 2004, although the panel never trusted him enough to start him consistently.
They added Lauaki to their 2007 World Cup squad and made noises about him denting some of the opposition until he lost traction after a date with the judiciary following the massive win against Romania.
This season, Lauaki's form was patchy as the new rules kicked in during the Super 14 but he was given a selection reprieve by the All Blacks' panel while Masoe, Collins, Thorne, Newby and Tuiali'i were not required in black jerseys.
He had bit-part roles in five tests this season without ever looking the goods.
After his Sydney blunders, Lauaki was siphoned away to attend to provincial duties. He showed there how dangerous he could be in atrocious conditions as his Waikato side slipped 18-10 first up against Northland on Thursday.
Leave him there _ let him play, let him get his confidence back, let him enjoy his rugby.
