Rugby: All Black reject Messam turns on real dazzler

Air NZ Cup
Waikato 30
Manawatu 22

Liam Messam would not look out of place were he immediately recalled to the All Blacks, according to his Waikato coach Chris Gibbes.

The Waikato captain, yesterday wearing the No 6 shirt, was the stand-out player in a entertaining match in Hamilton.

Played under the big yellow disc in the sky, an enthusiastic crowd turned out to see two sides committed to giving the ball some air - through the hands rather than the boot.

Those of a sterile disposition will tut-tut about the high error count and the defensive frailties of both sides. But the only shame of this match was the fact that Manawatu replacement Isaac Thompson could not convert his own try from a handy position that would have given the visitors a richly deserved bonus point.

Earlier, promising talent Aaron Cruden had put Manawatu within touching distance with a try that was reminiscent of another green-and-white first five-eighths at his peak, Lee Stensness. Taking the ball at first receiver at pace and with some depth, Cruden put on a huge left-foot step to breach the line and score.

But any thoughts of giant-killing were soon extinguished when Sosene Anesi benefited from a bit of unnoticed obstruction and some jet-heeled acceleration to carve through the defence and score from 35m out.

It was that sort of match.

If a single player personified proceedings, it was Messam. The All Black reject showcased his fantastic range of skills, scoring the opening try and showing a set of hands that most international flyhalves would be proud of. The important men who would have watched this game with a clipboard would no doubt have feasted on the fact he lost the ball in contact at one point and probably ran away from his support on another.

But to focus on the negative with Messam is missing the point. What he brought to Waikato yesterday was leadership, vision and, most importantly, the skills to be able to implement that vision.

Gibbes clearly gives the 25-year-old more leeway than All Black coach Graham Henry.

"He's got some things that win games, but he's got some things that lose games and that's the disappointment for us," Henry said when Messam was dropped ahead of the Tri Nations.

The words obviously stung.

"He was down, like any human being would be," Gibbes said. "His release from the All Blacks was not what he wanted but at the same time it has just demonstrated the character of the guy.

He's come back in, he's faced it, we've talked about it openly and honestly and basically from that day he has kept moving forward, working on the stuff he's been asked to by the All Black selectors every day," said Gibbes.

Waikato 30 (L. Messam, S. Lauaki, S. Christie, S. Anesi tries; C. Bruce 2 cons, 2 pens) Manawatu 22 (L. Raikabula, A. Cruden, I. Thompson tries; Cruden 2 cons, pen). Halftime: 12-7.