Rugby: Weepu in doubt for Melbourne

Piri Weepu. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Halfback Piri Weepu is in doubt for the All Blacks' Tri-Nations test against Australia in Melbourne this month due to pending fatherhood.

Weepu, arguably the best player on the field in last night's 31-17 defeat of South Africa, raced to hospital soon after the fulltime whistle after hearing his first child could be on the way.

That wasn't the case and Weepu was back at the team hotel today.

The baby is due early in the week leading up to the Wallabies test on July 31, may well impact on his involvement according to coach Graham Henry.

"It would be good if that baby came very quickly. If we can work on that, that would be good," Henry said.

"There's a possibility (he will miss the test), we'll just have to wait and see."

Last night's test was a breakthrough performance from the 26-year-old on his home ground. His 40th test was just his 14th start, and the first time he hasn't started among the reserves since late 2008.

The crowd roared his every touch in a varied attacking display which sparked several of New Zealand's best moments. The loudest was reserved for a 50m penalty goal on the angle midway through the second spell, when replacing the out-of-touch Daniel Carter as goalkicker.

Henry said Weepu was his player of the match while assistant coach Wayne Smith said the No 9's display in place of regular starter Jimmy Cowan was "outstanding".

"He was clearly happy to be on his home track," Smith said.

"That first half he made 2-3 busts that were pretty important for us. He stepped up and kicked a key penalty too."

- NZPA