KEY POINTS:
For someone who expected to play against Canada and not much else before the World Cup, the All Blacks' contrasting Tri-Nations rugby campaign has been a continual upswing for Nick Evans.
The Otago and Highlanders utility has made the most of every minute since being called into action in the second half of the All Blacks' season-opening win against France at Eden Park on June 2.
Since then he started the second test in Wellington a week later for an injured Dan Carter before having to bide his time until producing a welcome cameo against the Springboks in Christchurch, scoring one of three late stress-relieving tries at Jade Stadium.
With Carter still to scale his usual heady heights -- and Leon MacDonald sidelined with a groin strain -- Evans has emerged as a valuable bench option for the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup decider against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday night.
The first five-eighth/fullback's versatility has seen him emerge as a virtual certainty for the bench -- a role he accepts is his lot at the moment, even in these days of player rotation.
In a damning indictment of the All Blacks patchy backline play against a South African B side, the introduction of the straight running Evans at fullback inside the final quarter was, along with Brendon Leonard's impact behind the scrum, arguably a highlight of the match.
Leonard may even be pressing for a starting spot -- at Byron Kelleher or Piri Weepu's expense by the end of October -- though Evans accepts it will probably take injuries for him to run on in anything other than a pool match in France.
"Apart from Richie (McCaw), Dan's probably the next biggest guy to knock off and get out of the way," the squad's back-up pivot acknowledged.
"It's frustrating to know you won't get the same amount of game time as a lot of the other guys on the bench but I have to resign myself to the fact that I've got to be ready when I'm needed."
Some may claim Evans -- who will this week decide whether to transfer to Auckland or return to North Harbour for next year's Air New Zealand Cup -- might even be playing smoother than Carter, who has been uncharacteristically subdued since returning from the All Blacks' reconditioning programme.
Evans though has no designs on supplanting his rival.
"Obviously we all go through little form slumps and things like that but he's been doing the yards on and off the field," Evans said.
"I think you saw at the weekend he's back to probably his best."
The 26-year-old has taken solace from the fact his sporadic efforts have at least all but earned him selection for the World Cup.
"The (first) French test, a half there, and starting the next one was more game time than I was expecting.
"I was expecting the Canada game (a fit-again Carter started) and maybe a few cameos off the bench from there. Now I'm looking forward to getting a little bit more.
"I've been nailing my opportunities when I've been out there -- that's pleasing because the World Cup is in the back of your mind, you want to get named on Sunday."
However, before those 30 names are read out at Eden Park, there is not the insignificant matter of defending the Bledisloe Cup and retaining the Tri-Nations a few hours before.
"It's a bit of a dress rehearsal, the Aussies will be a big test," said Evans, who admitted last Saturday's 33-6 win over South Africa also made for uncomfortable viewing from the subs bench.
"We did make a lot of handling errors, we just need a bit of patience -- the pieces of the puzzle are coming together, he reassured.
"As a team we're really confident with the style of game we're playing, we don't want to change how we've played before. We want to play an open style of game."
That approach may yet be tempered by a continuation of Auckland's cold and wet snap. It forced the players to have a relaxed ball skills session indoors yesterday, though they are scheduled to have their first serious training run this afternoon.
The Wallabies arrive from Sydney tomorrow.
- NZPA
