Weepu turns focus back to All Blacks

Piri Weepu. PIcture / Fotopress

The All Blacks have Piri Weepu's attention - again. The halfback who had a meteoric rise to All Black status at the end of last year admits he tuned out after not being wanted for the Lions series. So much so that he didn't even watch the All Blacks' 3-0 duffing of Sir Clive Woodward's men.

"I sort of wasn't interested. It was a bit stink that I missed out on it."

But his inclusion in the next All Black assignment has Weepu's sharpest focus.

With veteran halfback Justin Marshall off to Leeds, Weepu is the number two behind Byron Kelleher for the Tri-Nations series - although he's still happy to bide his time in the quest to be number one.

While the All Black coaches have said they are keen to develop two world class players in each position, Weepu said he was in no hurry to be cast into the leading role.

"There is an opportunity for me to push Byron [Kelleher], he is a good player, a tremendous player," Weepu said.

"I'll try my best to get an opportunity to get out there but when I do I can't slack off and play like I do in the Super 12. It is a lot faster and is a big step up from that."

Growing up in Wellington, the Weepu name is more familiar in league circles than rugby. His brother Billy is a former Manly player.

Despite his rugby success, Weepu is still keen on league and remains adamant he would like to play for the Kiwis one day.

His journey into rugby began at boarding school and stepped up a gear when he was named in the Wellington side after he left school.

His first national team was the world champion New Zealand under-21 side which he was a part of in 2004. The same year he made the All Blacks.

An elevation that could only be described as rapid.

He began the year as backup halfback to Jason Spice in the Hurricanes and ended it as an All Black after an impressive NPC season.

Weepu's skills, in particular his kicking ability, secured him that spot on the Northern Hemisphere tour, where he made his debut in the 26-25 win against Wales in Cardiff.

"To get that first test cap under the belt ... I really enjoyed it and learned so much.

"It means a lot. I get to run out with the best people in the country and play the best in other countries, it is a big honour."

By all accounts Weepu did all right in his first hit out. All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith said: "He did well in a cauldron, it was a difficult situation and he stepped up. I think he has shown that he is one of those players the bigger it is the better he is."

Weepu may not have been watching the Lions test series, but he played a big part during the tour, turning out against them for NZ Maori and Wellington and heading to Australia with the Junior All Blacks.

"It does make you a lot harder,' he said of his dropping. "It pushes you a lot harder.

"You do things you wouldn't normally do and you practise things a lot longer just to make sure you get them right."