Gregor Paul: Auckland the loser as Carlos stays put

The art of forgiveness needs to be learned by New Zealand's rugby administrators. They also need to learn how to put their own emotions aside and see the bigger picture.

Carlos Spencer is not coming home because there are concerns he might be disruptive and because not everyone has got over the way he left in 2005.

No one will come out and say it in such blunt terms but that's it. Petty stuff with a big consequence.

Daniel Bowden will be available for Auckland and he has promise. But Spencer is a player with nothing to prove. The world knows what he can do and, no offence to Bowden, but he could be stuck on billboards around the city and not induce a single ticket sale.

'King Carlos' on the other hand - there's a player Aucklanders will pay to see.

He's a player who might unite and divide the city in equal measure but at least those who think he's a show pony will be hurling abuse from paid seats at Eden Park.

It would be disappointing to believe that Spencer's age was a factor in all this. Yes, he's 33 but last week, the NZRU extended Brad Thorn's contract and the All Black lock is 34.

Age isn't a uniform measure on which judgement should be made anyway. Spencer is in fantastic shape.

He's a dedicated trainer and there are plenty of 25-year-olds who would love to be in the same condition.

Plenty of 25-year-olds would love to be able to hold down a place at a top Premiership club and turn games on a flash of genius.

There are probably also plenty of 25-year-olds on contract here, in no danger of ever winning a test cap or being much more than a name in the Almanack, who are being paid more than Spencer would have settled for to come home. But what most 25-year-olds have in their favour is that they don't have strength of personality.

Spencer does and that's what makes him the player he is. That's why he controls games and on occasion loses games. That's why he generates interest.

That's why Spencer left on bad terms in 2005. He fell out with Blues assistant coach Joe Schmidt.

Spencer had his views on how to play. He believed the team needed to have an on-field leader, a defining personality to take control in tough times.

Schmidt had other ideas and such is Spencer's way, he retreated into himself after the two men clashed.

It made for a difficult and divisive period. In his final weeks with the Blues, Spencer was marginalised, a peripheral figure reduced to bench duties, and he couldn't get to Northampton fast enough.

Four years on and it's starting to feel like he has not yet been forgiven. The loser in this is not Spencer. He was looking at a massive pay cut to come home.

Instead, he'll play for a passionate club who should make the Heineken Cup and challenge for the Premiership title.

The loser is Auckland Rugby and their supporters.