KEY POINTS:
Luke McAlister back in black. That prospect gained further momentum yesterday when the former All Black midfielder signed on again for rugby in New Zealand.
Gaining McAlister's signature was a nifty coup for the NZRU, who have kept in constant touch and offered him a variety of choices in their unabashed aim to get him back to the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Job done, base one rounded. Now for the next tricky chapter.
If McAlister concludes his deal with Sale, is fit and heads home at the start of June, the All Blacks panel have to think he would be an ideal choice, even if only as backup, to the dwindling national five-eighths resources.
Having McAlister tucked in beside Stephen Donald and Ma'a Nonu would give greater ballast to the five-eighths armouryas Daniel Carter recuperates from his Achilles tendon surgery.
McAlister has the experience of 22 tests and touring with the All Blacks since 2004 as a playmaker and goalkicker.
However, the NZRU would have to grant him a dispensation to qualify for immediate All Black selection.
Under their rules, McAlister would have to play in a local competition before he was eligible for All Black duty, an edict that would eliminate him from the June tests then Tri-Nations while he played in the national championship to become available for the end-of-year tour.
That regulation was introduced to reward those who stayed to play their rugby in New Zealand. The NZRU wanted to offer protection and encouragement for players based here. No player had yet been given a dispensation.
It is easy to see the NZRU having a change of policy, especially if their five-eighths resources are hit by further injury before the start of the test series.
It is difficult to imagine McAlister would return home without the immediate chance of collecting some decent coin. It would be equally strange for the NZRU, in these tough financial times, to outlay serious wedge on a sidelined McAlister.
New situations offer the chance of creative solutions.
Just over a decade ago, in response to Graham Henry's abrupt exit to coach Wales, the NZRU invoked a clause prohibiting coaches working overseas from taking the All Blacks.
That rule was rescinded and it must be just a matter of time before we see a McAlister amendment on the NZRU books.
