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The enigma that is Isaia Toeava has been replaced by another, Ma'a Nonu.
Where Nonu was cold-shouldered for the World Cup, the Wellington midfielder has bounced back into favour in the wider training group going through their work this week in Auckland before Sunday's integration of the Crusaders into the initial All Black squad.
But Toeava - the 22-year-old who was tipped for all sorts of wondrous deeds at the World Cup - has been excluded from the training squad and asked to amend his game in the club and provincial arenas.
It is a fall which is as rapid as his rise to international duty when he was chosen for the All Blacks Grand Slam tour to Europe in 2005. After just eight games for Auckland, the teenage Toeava made his test debut at fullback against Scotland as the selectors talked about their "special project".
Toeava's appearance from the bench in the World Cup quarter-final failure against France was his 15th in the black jersey during three seasons of mixed production. There have been the strong attacking bursts, the power and the speed interspersed with the dodgy handling or uncertainty.
When the All Black selectors were questioned about the wisdom of promoting Toeava at such a young age, they suggested doubters should wait, have faith and have patience. It was a dress-rehearsal for similar sentiments from them last season about the World Cup target.
"One day he will be a superstar, I've got no doubt about that," All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen insisted after Toeava had turned in a patchy performance in Pretoria in 2006. "The public and you people [the media] just have to be a little bit patient because we're prepared to be.
"We know how good he is. We see it every day at training and we've seen it in flashes in the games he's played," Hansen said at the time. "Just give the kid a bit of a chance and sit back and watch this space."
The patience Hansen spoke of just last year seems to have run dry. Toeava has missed the initial 2008 cut while the All Blacks made their earliest exit from the World Cup.
Eventually both may be recaptured though Toeava will be hoping his test chance comes much sooner than the 2011 season.
His Marist club in Auckland had been in touch and coach and former Tongan captain Mana Otai hoped the young midfielder would be training next week. He doubted whether Toeava would turn up tonight and be available for the weekend match against Waitemata.
"If he did I would have to put him in the 22, I would have to make room for him but I think most of these guys are having a standdown from rugby now," said Otai.
Toeava's agent Bruce Sharrock said the midfielder was determined to showcase his ability again in the provincial series for Auckland.
"He has not been swayed by any overseas offers or by this rejection. He is disappointed but is still only one injury away from getting back into the squad."
