All Blacks: Sivivatu has chance to impress selectors

Form and injury have blighted Sitiveni Sivivatu's pogress. Photo / Getty Images

Injuries to the back three and the oscillating form of Sitiveni Sivivatu are issues for the All Black selectors but you figure they are praying for flashes of class from the Fijian against his countrymen tomorrow.

Time is winding down for the 43-test veteran to convince the panel he is worth a place in the World Cup squad. He is not alone.

Try Andrew Hore, Mils Muliaina, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane and Tony Woodcock who for a multitude of reasons from injury to franchise ructions, have not hit much of their best form this year.

Damage to Israel Dagg, Hosea Gear, Richard Kahui and Jane has allowed Sivivatu to squeeze into the No 11 jersey tomorrow against Fiji at Carisbrook.

He has not played for the All Blacks since a test against France in Marseilles at the end of 2009. Since then form and injury have blighted his progress while others like Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Rene Ranger and Joe Rokocoko have punched their cards.

Cousin Joe has gone, Siti is hanging on by a thread.

There has been suggestions of animated one-way chat from the All Black selectors at and with Sivivatu, questions about his fitness, his lifestyle, his desire for the black jersey.

There is not much more leeway but tomorrow is a great chance for the wing to bang a late "pick me" marker into the turf at Carisbrook.

Workrate will be the big inquiry from the selectors followed by communication. Any signs of disinterest because of the cold conditions or whatever, will not wash.

The World Cup will be played late at night, probably in tough conditions at some stage and the All Blacks want men who will put their bodies on the line for the team cause.

Call it a hunch or dodgy guesswork, whatever. Sivivatu still looms as a better package than Guildford who is coming off a flat Super 15 final.

Guildford has great wheels and an improved workrate but his game does not yet suggest an allround pedigree, a defensive wisdom under intense international heat, the give-it-to-me touches or directions needed to snap or close out games of burning pressure.

Those are the checks and balances the All Black selectors will be assessing, looking for the threads of gold Sivivatu has delivered in the past.

Sivivatu has heard all the questions, he has listened to the counselling, he has picked up on the rising requirements.

Now it is whether he wants to respond and then whether he can.