All Blacks: Kahui crosses fingers for lucky break

All Black midfield Richard Kahui is hoping to get some time off the bench against Wales on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

It's the story of Richard Kahui's rugby career to date: bizarre injuries just as he's about to make an All Blacks rugby statement.

So, after shaking off his latest strange ailment and being recalled to the bench for Saturday's test against Wales, the 25-year-old from Tokoroa is hoping normality can resume.

The gifted midfielder/wing burst onto the scene with an impressive Super 14 in 2008, playing eight tests and the heartstopper against Munster at Limerick in a successful debut year.

Then it all started to go awry.

"It's probably the story of my career, I've had some strange injuries right from the start. I've had four injuries; two shoulder reconstructions, this and a high ankle sprain," he said yesterday.

"I have never pulled a calf or a hammy... it's always been something fairly serious. Hopefully there's a change of fortune now."

Kahui's most recent test was against Wales, a 29-9 win in Cardiff in November 2008.

Last year was ruined by injury, and despite some patchy form for the Chiefs this year he was poised to be summoned for the vacant All Blacks No 12 jersey, until fate struck again.

"I don't know how I did it. I made a tackle or something and I've fractured the cartilage of the first rib, something like that.

"Three weeks after Super 14, I flew down to see Deb (Robinson, All Blacks doctor) and she said she'd never seen it as a sports injury before. Usually it's from big impacts like falling off a motorbike."

So motorbikes, and hopefully medical centres, will be off limits for Kahui from now on.

He played a full game at No 12 for Te Rapa in Hamilton club rugby last Saturday to prove his fitness, outside fellow All Black Mils Muliaina (calf) who had 50 minutes at first five-eighth but still remained on the injured list for this weekend.

Now Kahui will try and force his way into the starting 15 with a potential bench cameo at Carisbrook.

Despite Benson Stanley's impressive debut against Ireland in New Plymouth, in the absence of incumbent Ma'a Nonu (knee), the selectors told Kahui to concentrate on the No 12 jersey.

Primarily a centre, Kahui has played nearly every backline position and, having played second-five for national age-grade teams is willing to take on the challenge.

"I've been running a lot at 12 and it's something a bit different for me. Especially at this level but it's pretty exciting to get the ball in the hands a bit more and become more a playmaker than a penetrator.

"In the past as a centre I've always been more a physical-type player, at the line, whereas at 12 your thought patterns are a bit different because you're playing for your outsides plus helping the men inside you. Your communication skills is the big thing you need to nail."

Assistant coach Wayne Smith told him to try and carve his own niche, rather than model his game on any particular player.

Kahui was just grateful to be 100 per cent fit and was ready for a resumption of his test career after his club outing last weekend.

"I felt pretty good last week but I hadn't played since the last game of Super 14. Even though test rugby is another level of intensity I felt really good and got some good knocks and felt fine afterwards."

- NZPA