All Blacks: Dilemma at No 9

Halfbacks Jimmy Cowan, (pictured) Piri Weepu and Brendon Leonard have failed to cover themselves in glory for the All Blacks so far this season. Photo / Getty Images

Halfback was always going to be one of the All Black strengths this season.

Separating the merits of Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu and Brendon Leonard loomed as the most difficult task as the trio made a break ahead of injured former international Andy Ellis.

Six tests into the season it remains an awkward choice, but for different reasons.

Cowan was dragged off soon after halftime in the latest defeat to the Boks before Weepu gave another middling replacement display while Leonard watched from the stand.

After a sparky Super 14 season ended by a hamstring injury, Leonard has not recaptured that zip against Italy or the Boks in his twin starts. He looks like he needs a regular burst of national championship matchplay to recapture that potency.

Cowan has been the preferred halfback in the last four Bledisloe Cup tests where he has been abrasive and constructive. He was subdued in the weekend against the Boks and, presumably under instructions, used a strange mixture of box kicks in his own territory.

The "we play what's in front us" spiel often delivered by the All Black staff did not ring true as Cowan appeared to be playing to strict instructions.

Like the All Black tactics for much of the match, it did not make sense.

Weepu was subbed on and offered little more. His two-step moves before passing did not help while his delivery into the crowd behind the deadball line matched his pass into Jason Eaton's shoulder the week before.

After successive failures in South Africa, the coaches have three weeks to sort out their side and their approach for the next leg of the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup in Sydney. Halfback is one of a number of ticklish choices.

All sorts of excuses were made for the loss in Durban and the manner of that defeat, by the staff and their most ardent believers.

Watching from the outside, rather than the closeted confines of the inner circle, the work at Bloemfontein and Durban remained both sloppy and enigmatic. Attacking in Durban from inside the 22 or worse still, from behind the goal-line, was staggering. Continuing to do so when conditions deteriorated was even more dangerous and flawed.

Lack of experience was offered as an excuse for an All Black side without Daniel Carter, for now, and senior lock Ali Williams. But the All Blacks only had a cumulative difference of 80 caps between themselves and their weekend hosts who had rookies Morne Steyn and Heinrich Brussouw in the crucial roles of five-eighths and openside flanker.

The All Blacks were due home last night with Harbour's Luke McAlister and Auckland's John Afoa two players scheduled to play in this weekend's national championship.

The Waikato duo of Leonard and Aled de Malmanche are also likely to suit up this weekend while other provinces were waiting to see how their test players scrubbed up after the trip home from Africa.

Fullback Mils Muliaina said the Boks were building from their World Cup triumph then their series win against the Lions. Those experiences were invaluable in tough competitions like the Tri-Nations.

The All Blacks had made too many mistakes under pressure.

"There were times when we just made the wrong decisions. It was probably on to kick and we ran it and if it was on to run it, we kicked it," the fullback said.

Those frustrations were hurting the team who have collected three defeats in six outings this year.

Any ideas the selectors have about altering the side for the next Bledisloe Cup test will be limited by the alternatives. The player most at risk may be 57-test veteran Joe Rokocoko.

Somehow, for the twin tests in Africa, the wing replaced Cory Jane who had played soundly against the Wallabies in Auckland.

The switch was not a success and Rokocoko may struggle to be picked for Sydney with Jane, Hosea Gear and Lelia Masaga in the frame and Rudi Wulf set to return from his shoulder problem.

* To the rescue?

Daniel Carter: Top of the pile if he stays injury-free for the next few provincial games. If his form mounts, the selectors will find it hard to ignore the backline champion.

Adam Thomson: Was picked for the opening test, on great Super 14 form, but broke his hand. Back playing for Otago and could be picked against the Wallabies to combat their looseforward pace.

Rudi Wulf: If he plays and is sharp, the selectors will think about using him because of his minimal mistake rate and ability to defuse bombs from Matt Giteau.

Hosea Gear: Continues to show his form and was one of the two players, with Wyatt Crockett, left out of the squad taken to Africa. If it is no-go Joe, it could be hello Hosea.

Lelia Masaga: If all else fails and the selectors want to risk flat out attack, then the magic feet of Masaga might be considered after his test taste against Italy.

Aled de Malmanche: If hooker Keven Mealamu is sidelined with his chest injury, then de Malmanche will be sent to Oz as deputy and may be asked to provide some oomph from the bench.