Wynne Gray: Kaitangata Claw lending a helping hand to Highlanders

Tony Brown. Photo / Getty Images

Twelve years ago the "Kaitangata Claw" was giving extra thanks to his nana after making the All Blacks squad for the World Cup.

Now it is the Highlanders who are piling the gratitude on Tony Brown for helping bail them out in their injury crisis.

When Brown was a nipper at Kaitangata in South Otago, he sliced the tendons in his hand on a pane of glass. The injury was so grievous that there was talk of amputation.

But Brown's nana did not agree and through her persistence, another medical opinion and years of surgery, the youngster's hand was saved.

His grasp is impaired, but not his courage - just the sort of ingredient Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph went looking for when his two nominated first five-eighths, Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga, fell to injury.

Brown plays up flat, he puts his 36-year-old body on the line in attack and defence. He knows if he can nudge himself or some teammates over the advantage line, it is a huge start.

Equally, Brown on defence wants to shut down his opponents before they hit that part of the track. Does he like tackling? Is it cold in Kaitangata in winter?

Brown's impact will be a much different package for the Blues to confront tonight than that from Danny Cipriani, of the Rebels, a week ago.

The English pivot has great speed, a feel for space and is a superb goalkicker. But he will drift back into the pocket and too often is a tackling turnstile.

Watching Cipriani a few times in his debut Super rugby year, you can see why England coach Martin Johnson drifted away from him.

If the Blues and others have been able to expose him on defence so readily, they are not strong omens for Cipriani's international future.

But Brown? There has been growing speculation with the five-eighths' injury toll round the country that he could be a wildcard World Cup pick.

Don't put any razoos on that but for now, he is the best Highlanders wildcard.