KEY POINTS:
When Mils Muliaina has his poor-me moments - and he admits to a few moments of brooding introspection - he quickly counts his good fortune, compared with the Achilles tendon troubles of All Black prop Greg Somerville.
Where fullback Muliaina has been the go-to man for the All Blacks during Graham Henry's coaching tenure, the rarely damaged Mr Reliable, he has been banged up this season.
In 36 tests up to the end of last year, Muliaina started 31 matches and came off the bench in a further two to shade lock Chris Jack as the most heavily employed All Black.
Fullback, right wing, centre, left wing - it did not matter, Muliaina was an unfailing talent anywhere in the back four for Henry.
This year, his body let him down. During the special World Cup conditioning training, Muliaina strained his left hamstring, broke a bone in his foot in his comeback trial game - and then strained his right hamstring when he assembled with the All Blacks.
He's played just two Super 14 games for the Chiefs. The go-to man has become the where-to person.
"It has been a little bit frustrating," he admitted, "I am already halfway through the year and I come into camp for the French tests and I am injured again. That is hard work.
"I have had a few moments this year, but my partner just told me to think of poor old Yoda, [Somerville] who has been out for the whole year - that puts you in your place.
"I've only had a few weeks compared to his year. There are challenges, but the coaches and medical staff are all very patient with my questions and with seeing me on the physio table.
"I think I have just come back and not rehabbed as well as I perhaps needed to after my foot problem and other parts have compensated for that.
"I did not do a lot of sprint work - maybe I did not listen to my body.
"I thought I could run it off, it was only just a little tweak but then it started to aggravate. I am a lot better now and should be good to go in this game."
Returning to rugby and his 48th test, in front of his home crowd at Hamilton today, was a handy connection.
The only problem would be lugging a tired body on to the plane tomorrow for the long flight to South Africa and the start of the Tri-Nations.
"The only thing I am lacking is getting used to the physical side of things, getting used to the contact again," said Muliaina.
"I just hope I don't break down again. But I guess if I am going to be injured it is better to get it done at this stage of the year rather than later.
"I just have to get out there, stay positive, play some footy and go for it."
Muliaina, 26, enjoyed the ambience at Waikato Stadium where he felt the crowd and players could interact much more in the purpose-built arena.
The surface was always solid and it was great to hear the buzz from a full house. The stands were closer, so there was more atmosphere generated by the crowd - like the noise at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Muliaina played against Canada in the last World Cup and scored four tries in the 68-6 victory.
He switched to the right wing to allow Leon Macdonald to play at fullback as the All Blacks went through their options after the tournament exit of the injured Tana Umaga.
