By WYNNE GRAY
Andrew Walker's reaction was a little extreme.
He had the choice, just as every potential All Black has, about whether he wanted to travel to the Northern Hemisphere for an end-of-year rugby tour.
Instead, the Wallaby wing disappeared yesterday from the team's training camp in Coffs Harbour, just as he
went walkabout earlier this season instead of flying with his team-mates to Perth.
In shooting through, Walker abandoned his options. Coach Eddie Jones will drop-kick him for good, unless Walker comes up with some outrageously good excuse.
Meanwhile, like the rest of the Wallabies, the All Blacks have a travel option, though the NZRFU wants a rapid answer, with a Monday deadline for the players on the mailout list. That would help in several ways.
It would allow new coach John Mitchell to assess alternative candidates during a possible three further rounds of the NPC and leave the NZRFU with the decision about whether the tour should go ahead.
There are visible signs of some player unease.
Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen have indicated they are apprehensive about journeying to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
And Marshall confessed he had discussed the escalating war in Afghanistan with senior players. Group mentality is a strong part of rugby life and that suggests there may be a number of others who share Marshall's uncertainty.
The question will be whether that translates into unavailability when the NZRFU circular hits the letter box today.
Some players may see the mail drop as a blessing. Especially those who have been injured, uninspiring or uncertain during the NPC and fear for their future under new coach John Mitchell.
Being unavailable is better than being dropped.
However, if there is a huge list of unavailable players, the NZRFU might have to wonder if they can pick a side which should be called the All Blacks.
They would not want to leave themselves open to the same sort of criticism levelled at the substandard England side in 1998.
If the list is too long, the NZRFU could plan some other action.
Ireland, Scotland and Argentina could be invited here, the All Blacks could travel to Argentina for a tournament, or there could be another series with the Wallabies.
The All Blacks could play a couple of internal games against New Zealand A or everyone could just flag the footy for the year after the NPC final on November 3.
* While the NZRFU is holding an inquiry into a supposed staff leak about the draw for the 2003 World Cup, it appears New Zealand may cede both semifinals to co-hosts Australia.
When the draw surfaced, it was alleged a New Zealand rugby official had delivered the document because he was miffed that Australia was making the profit from the tournament.
The NZRFU would make a loss, even though it had one semifinal.
Sources now suggest Australia will offer to buy New Zealand's semifinal to move them from a significant tournament debt to a profit in the millions.
By WYNNE GRAY
Andrew Walker's reaction was a little extreme.
He had the choice, just as every potential All Black has, about whether he wanted to travel to the Northern Hemisphere for an end-of-year rugby tour.
Instead, the Wallaby wing disappeared yesterday from the team's training camp in Coffs Harbour, just as he
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