The many anomalies in New Zealand's rugby structures will be starkly illustrated today when no fewer than 11 of the present All Black squad will make cameo appearances in club sides.
For those who decry the way club rugby has been undermined in the wake of professionalism inthe past 10 years, that may be something to celebrate, and that was the spin placed by the New Zealand union's media release yesterday.
But with North Harbour, and one of that union's feature games a prime example, the fleeting release of All Blacks and their selection for various clubs at the request of the All Black coaching staff contains some curiosities.
For their match against North Shore, Marist will be boosted by three All Blacks, Rudi Wulf, Anthony Boric and Tony Woodcock. But their Shore opposition, by coincidence, will be significantly weakened. From this weekend representative players will be removed from club sides to concentrate on preparations for the Air New Zealand Cup.
Shore will thus face a reinforced Marist side minus four key players: wing Viliame Waqaseduadua, halfback Luke Hamilton, lock James King and hooker James Hincho.
It might seem an odd imbalance, though Shore officials were not complaining yesterday. "We're looking at it as a challenge," premier team manager Max Webb said. "It's a return to the good old days when All Blacks regularly turned out for their clubs."
But Harbour's other All Black, three-quarter Anthony Tuitavake, has not been released to his club, Massey, despite not being even in the reserves for last weekend's test against England.
In Auckland, prop John Afoa, recovering from injury, will play for University. First five eighths Stephen Donald, centre Richard Kahui and loose forward Sione Luakai will play in Waikato.
Centre Conrad Smith will play in Wellington for Old Boys-University and prop Neemia Tialata for Petone, flanker Adam Thompson for University in Dunedin and halfback Jimmy Cowan for Mataura in Southland.
