Wynne Gray: Mathewson chasing hard for black jersey

Alby Mathewson, here jinking past Julian Savea of the Hurricanes, says he feels like his form is steadily improving. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's halfbacks may not make many world best lists but competition for World Cup places is fierce.

Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis, Brendon Leonard and Alby Mathewson have all worn the national black, Kahn Fotuali'i wears the blue of Samoa, Taniela Moa was called into one All Black squad while Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Smith could soon make a push for that honour.

World Cup selection remains a shade hazy until the selectors firm up their ideas on whether they will take three halfbacks to the tournament and how Weepu's form and health scrub up after his long-term injury.

So far, Mathewson's shift to the Blues has given him the matchplay he could not find in the capital and regular exposure against the other test candidates. He's played all 12 games for the Blues this season and suits up tonight against the Stormers at Eden Park.

"Getting better," he said about his season form, "like I have missed one game, through injury, since I started playing back in'06.

"I've got a few niggles, not too bad though because every week it is pretty physical and you are always getting collected."

The toughest games he's had this year were against the Highlanders and Sharks and he felt the Stormers were going to be equally physical. They tried to take teams on up front and round the fringes and would be intent on revenge after blowing a significant lead last week against the Chiefs.

Like most halfbacks, Mathewson is a feisty competitor who is narked when he gets subbed.

"I started slowly this season but I feel my form is heading in the right direction. My form last year was pretty decent and I'm pretty hard on myself, and in New Zealand you have to be like that because you can't drop your standards. More games I am getting into it, I feel heaps more confident."

It's been a bit of a guessing game waiting for the Mathewson dart, those signature scuttling runs. He smirks as he gives little away.

"I'm keen to run but they have to be smart. I have to pick my time and that's what I have been working on and I have to stay within the team methods and plans too. It is coming and the boys are getting used to running lines off me and vice versa.

"This will be big though. The Stormers are the best defensive team in the comp, they fight to stay on their feet and they are a brick wall. We have to find ways of breaking them down, we can't go wide to wide or get into individual battles with them because they are very strong.

"We have to wear them down and adjust."

Mathewson has missed playing at Eden Park, it's been five weeks since the Blues were last there against the Waratahs. The forecast is fine and the Stormers will be amped to repeat their 33-21 victory at the same venue last year.

They will bring Ricky Januarie as halfback, a very combative opponent though Mathewson thinks the sub, Dewaldt Duvenage, may have a stronger allround game.

"Whoever is in their team, this has to be a bounceback game for us after last week. We fought back well against the Reds but conceding such a huge start was the end for us."