Lions all out of aces

When Graham Henry took over as All Black coach he immediately chased away all the ghosts that had haunted his predecessor out of the job.

By the end of last season the exorcism appeared to be complete. But then he selected a 26-man squad that doesnt contain a genuine back-up first-five or a proven test-class goal-kicker. Nor is there a specialist openside back-up and just to add a real edge of fear, there is confusion as to whether Mils Muliaina is a fullback or centre.

John Mitchell paid the ultimate price for selecting a World Cup squad that only had one test quality first five. He gambled that part-time goal-kickers could step up and do the job if required and he played a fullback at centre with consequences that no one needs reminding of.

What exactly, then, was Henry doing when the rest of New Zealand was learning these harsh lessons?

Well, he was there too. Its just that he was taking the view that if you invest more time in the back-up options, the strategy of entrusting non-specialists is valid.

There is a reluctance to suggest that Henrys faith in his players is admirable but just possibly misplaced.

He and fellow coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have been every bit as meticulous as Sir Clive Woodward. They have pored over statistics and videos, attended endless Super 12 trainings and know their players in detail that would make rugby anoraks seethe with envy.

They are not gamblers. They have not made any decisions on a whim.

Aaron Mauger has been entrusted to cover first five because the coaching panel believe he has the necessary vision, distribution and decision-making skills as well as the right kicking game.

Rodney Sooialo is covering Richie McCaw because the coaches believe he has the pace and skills at the breakdown to play at openside if required. And Mils Muliaina is such a gifted footballer that it doesnt matter whether he wears 13 or 15.

Well, thats the theory. On paper it stacks up, sounds convincing.

But Mauger looked anything but convincing when he had a run at first five against Fiji. He was tentative, unable to feel the space. Hes got an array of dinky tactical kicks that work superbly from second receiver. When he shifted in a berth, his boot, especially the left one, didnt look quite cultured enough to carve off territory or drop the ball in behind the defence.

It was hardly surprising, first five is not really a position you can just slip back into after a long spell out of the saddle. Which is why MacDonald said, when he was asked this week how he would feel about being dropped into first five: Sliding up there wouldnt feel that foreign to me, but I still feel a little bit like a new guy, learning the moves.

The same is true for playing Muliaina at centre. Sure hes got the right skill-set and even relevant experience. There is, however, a major difference between filling in at 13 for the Blues and marking Brian ODriscoll.

The Tri-Nations would probably be a better time to slip Muliaina into the midfield. It seems the selectors are thinking about him as a potential centre partly because they would like to start with both him and MacDonald.

Again, there is history the 1999 World Cup to show that trying to accommodate players out of position does not necessarily work. Maybe a tough call has to be made on who starts at fullback.

Sooialo may be exposed as a very athletic No 8 but only an average number seven. Against the Lions, an average openside may be enough to secure possession and force turnovers that offer counter attack opportunities.

But it seems an unnecessary risk to take when Marty Holah wiped the floor with Martyn Williams, supposedly the quickest breakaway in the Lions party.

The biggest worry of all is the back-up goal-kicking. After the Fiji game Henry admitted it was a concern. The remedy would be practise, practise, practise.

He was suggesting that if both Mauger and Leon MacDonald work on it enough with specialist coach Mick Byrne, they will become accomplished test goal-kickers.

Thats a hard line to buy. Specialist kicking coaches like Byrne and his Lions counterpart Dave Alred speak frequently about goal-kicking being as much about psychology as it is technique.

Even if both MacDonald and Mauger start banging them over in training, thats no reason to believe they can do it in a game. Pressure does strange things to players. It can exacerbate the faults in any iffy technique.

It can only be hoped that the decision to leave Nick Evans out of the squad is not one that comes back to haunt Henry the way Mitchell was never forgiven for omitting Andrew Mehrtens.

All this fretting could be academic, though. If fate smiles kindly Dan Carter and Richie McCaw will sail through the opening test without picking up a scratch.

Its a big if. Fate hasnt been particular kind to New Zealand in recent years.

All Black test 22:

Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney Sooialo, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Derren Witcombe, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, James Ryan, Sione Lauaki, Justin Marshall, Maa Nonu, Leon MacDonald.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY