Inga Tuigamala: Selectors must let the Special Project specialise

Isaia Toeava. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

The time has come to sort out the career of Isaia Toeava once and for all.

Let him specialise in one position, and quit this destructive business of shunting a brilliant footballer all over the backline.

If Toeava himself and those who control his future don't quickly get some common sense and planning into his rugby life, this will turn into a potentially brilliant career wasted.

The game is for younger and younger players and at 24, time is quickly slipping by for Toeava. Unfortunately, injury and positional switches are nobbling his full potential.

He returns for the Blues against the Brumbies at fullback tonight, and has also been used in all the inside back positions plus wing in his test and provincial career.

This erratic selection business simply has not worked in bringing out the best in him.

To my mind, he shines as a winger, which may surprise some people because he does not have the blinding pace associated with the position. But he does have exceptional acceleration, and that's what counts.

My view is also at odds with those of the Blues coaches who say he is either a fullback or centre.

I believe Toeava could be another Sitiveni Sivivatu because he has power, agility and acceleration to shred opposing defences.

It's what you can do in the first 10m that counts most, and Toeava has more than enough size and power to break tackles.

Playing him on the wing would also allow him a floating role, to pick his spots and moments. This would also enable him to run off the shoulder of forwards when they pick and go in the middle of the field.

He is certainly not a lazy player, and the roving commission would suit him. You actually need players like Toeava, who can appear from nowhere to break games open.

More than anything, it is time to let him specialise in a position. If the powers that be say he is not a wing, well okay. Find his spot, and don't keep shifting him around. He is a young guy who has been in the wilderness, and there comes a time when you must step put of that wilderness.

Having been moved around so much, the way his career has panned out is not his fault. But he does have the power to do something about it, and he should grab the bull by the horns and demand a specialist role.

The coaches who control his career also need to get their act together on this, with co-ordination between the Blues and the All Blacks. Pat Lam has a good relationship with Graham Henry so this should not be hard to achieve.

The coaches need to take Toeava aside and make it clear exactly what they require in his game.

And while I don't know the young man personally, I would really encourage him to speak up, to tell the coaches exactly what he wants and believes in and demand that he be given the opportunity to produce.

A year or so out from the World Cup is well past the time to sort this situation out. Get together people, and work out what is best for this young man, for your sakes as well as his.

I'm confident the Blues can win tonight, and this is already a must win game for Lam's side.

The Brumbies have two of the most important players in Australian rugby - Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom - in their ranks. Giteau in particular must be shut down.