Rugby: First step to restart career

Mike Delany playing against Italy last year. Photo / Getty Images

Mike Delany hopes to play off the bench for the Bay of Plenty today and begin salvage work on a hugely disappointing season.

In a parallel universe, where the Chiefs had backed Delany to be their first choice No 10 and where his shoulder hadn't fractured at the end of the campaign, Aaron Cruden would not be starting for the All Blacks in Sydney on September 11.

That honour would be Delany's, the man who was settling nicely as Dan Carter's back-up at the end of last year only for everything to go wrong this year.

This should have been the year Delany established himself as the key playmaker at the Chiefs. It should have been the year he cemented his place as the country's second-best first five-eighths and it should have been the year he added to his one test cap earned against Italy last November.

Instead, he began the season at fullback covering Mils Muliaina's sabbatical.

Then he had to occupy the bench while coach Ian Foster persevered with Stephen Donald at first five.

However frustrating it was for Delany, it was arguably worse for the All Black coaches who wanted to see Donald at 12 and the Bay of Plenty man at 10. When Delany's shoulder capitulated in mid-April against the Stormers, requiring surgery and a six-month rehabilitation, he struggled to maintain his natural optimism.

Now he's mended and on the verge of playing again, he can't help but glance at the rising star of Cruden and feel a pang of something - jealousy, frustration, angst ... he's not sure.

"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't," Delany says when asked if he's thought about Cruden's impending selection for the Bledisloe test.

"Everyone wants to be out there and it's an awesome opportunity to get out and play.

"It's good for Aaron that he's being given a crack.

"Watching the way the All Blacks have played this year has been fantastic. They are really playing well and that has given me an extra drive.

"Having been out for so long, I am excited about the thought of playing again."

The one area he hasn't let his thoughts drift towards is his decision to turn down the Blues. After trying Carter then Cruden, the Blues came to Delany offering ample game time and the chance to steer a backline that was not short of raw talent.

It was tempting, but Delany felt an allegiance to the Chiefs and also felt that he had to back himself to win selection ahead of Donald.

He holds no regrets about that decision and remains confident that, despite his lack of game time and despite the fact time is running out before the All Blacks select their end of year tour party, the door is still open.

On the back of two appearances, it's unlikely he will be considered to back up Cruden in Sydney - Colin Slade and Luke McAlister are thought to have the front-running there - but a trip to Europe?

He's been around long enough to know that the key is to not think about it; to do what he can to turn around an ailing Bay side.

"If you do that, then I think the other stuff tends to take care of itself."

He's right, too. If he can manage five good games, then who knows? The All Black selectors were in touch shortly after he injured himself in April. They told him to get through his rehabilitation, to get that done properly and not rush back before he was ready.

They were in touch because he remains a player of extreme interest despite the fact Cruden is the man of the moment.

Delany is a runner, a play-maker and at 28, he has the maturity to cope with the mental intensity of test football.

He's also ideally suited to how the All Blacks are currently playing. "It is awesome footy," he says. "They are using the ball and having a crack. That's the way I like to play, too."

He's not sure how quickly he can settle into his form, having never had an injury of this magnitude before.

What he is confident about, however, is that the six months of rehabilitation have left him stronger and fitter and mentally burning to return.

"I have got to make sure I am reading the game well," he says. "I have been doing all the training with the boys since pre-season so I feel I am in touch with what they are trying to do."