It is some comeback for Piri Weepu to captain the All Blacks.
Unwanted for the World Cup because of playing and behavioural difficulties, the halfback also missed the first national intake this season.
He only reclaimed his place in the Tri-Nations series when Brendon Leonard was dispatched forknee surgery and, eight games since his recall, will lead the All Blacks on to the new Thomond Park tomorrow for their nostalgic encounter with Munster.
And while Weepu is loath to predict the future, he must be in line to start against either Wales or England in the final two stages of the Grand Slam quest. But this week is all about the only non-test match against Munster, skippering a side with new caps Scott Waldrom and Ben Franks and leading the haka with a possible retort from Rua Tipoki or one of his Kiwi cronies in the Munster side.
If an earlier tour pattern repeats, Weepu may be subbed towards the last quarter to allow him more recovery for the next test against Wales and time for Alby Mathewson to have his first run in the national jersey.
Whatever occurs, Weepu is not allowing his mind to wander past tomorrow. At one stage he wondered if he would even play when he was summoned to the All Black coaches' nerve centre. He scanned his memory to check if he had broken some playing or behavioural standards but the meeting was simply to tell him of his elevation to leader.
He does not know if this is a personal audition for the Cardiff test, a reward for missing out on that international or what the future holds.
The 25-year-old was a captain at Te Aute College and led the Wellington Lions through the national provincial championship. But this is altogether different as the Limerick area seethes with ideas their locals might cause a defeat to rival their 1978 triumph.
"I guess it is going to be a pretty intense game and I'm sure Munster will be fed the history of what happened here," Weepu said.
He was not born when the All Blacks fell 12-0 to Munster 30 years ago.
