Nacewa out of Henry's reach

Isa Nacewa in action against Southland. Picture / Brett Phibbs

When Graham Henry and his All Black panel ponder their backline options for the Grand Slam tour they will regretfully be putting a red line through the name Isa Nacewa.

Two minutes at the fag end of a World Cup match for Fiji against Scotland in 2003 put paid to the versatile Nacewa's All Black ambitions.

His form for Auckland this season has been impressive. He filled in for Sam Tuitupou at second five-eighth in the opening round and flew through a gap in the North Harbour defence for one of Auckland's three tries.

He came off the bench for Tuitupou against Otago, was back at No 12 and scoring the opening try in the 75-point contest against Southland in round three and grabbed two tries from the wing against Bay of Plenty last weekend.

Nacewa, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Doug Howlett - indeed stick Howlett, Nacewa, Ben Atiga and Tasesa Lavea side by side and with their curly locks from a distance they're hard to separate - will start on the wing again against Waikato at Eden Park tomorrow night.

"I'm happy with the way I'm playing," the amiable 23-year-old said. "With guys like Tasesa inside me and Ben outside that makes a huge difference when I've been at second-five and gives me confidence in the way I'm playing."

In his Super 12 debut season this year, he had 10 appearances for the Blues, three on the wing, seven at fullback. For some, that utility tag can be a curse, promoting the idea that he's a jack at a mix of positions but master of none.

But you won't hear that from Auckland coach Pat Lam, who is a big fan.

"His work ethic is unbelievable. He spends a lot of time improving areas of his game, which is why he's very comfortable playing No 10 through to No 15.

"Nothing fazes him, but his biggest asset is he's a real team man."

Nacewa, armed with real pace, made his Auckland debut as a substitute against Samoa early in 2003 and got just one start, at centre against Waikato that season.

Last year, he was fullback four times, on the wing three and came off the bench once in Lam's first season in charge. It wasn't a happy campaign. They finished seventh, and there were mutterings around the province.

But Nacewa reckons the pre-season tour of Australia worked wonders in terms of morale, particularly among the younger players in the squad.

"There's a different feeling from last year. Everyone's very relaxed," he said.

Played four, won four, top of the table. No one has scored more than Auckland's 137 points, and only North Harbour with 17 have more than Auckland's 16 tries.

Lam puts Nacewa among the quickest in the squad and praises his vision, that special gift that separates the good from the average.

"For some players it's good for them to specialise. With Isa, because he can dominate any position, it doesn't do him any harm at all.

"He'd have been a strong contender for the All Blacks at the end of the year."

Instead, there'll be a chat with Fiji coach Wayne Pivac sometime soon. But it's a conversation Henry and company might have fancied making themselves.

Isa Nacewa

10 tries in 18 games for Auckland

Played in 4 positions (fullback, wing, centre, second five-eighth)