King Carlos gets a free rein

By WYNNE GRAY

Brilliant Blues five-eighths Carlos Spencer has been given an unimpeded return to the All Blacks for their opening test against England next month.

No distractions, no competition - Spencer, like another key figure in the new-look All Blacks, No 8 Rodney So'oialo, has been sent clear signals he is the supremo in his position.

Spencer was picked ahead of his longtime adversary Andrew Mehrtens to duel with England maestro Jonny Wilkinson late last year. That challenge was halted when Spencer was forced off Twickenham with a shoulder injury and replaced by Mehrtens.

But Spencer has returned to be the individual star of the Super 12 while Mehrtens has been unable to follow his usual pattern.

He tends to pace himself before pushing through in the second half of the competition.

This season his drift continued, he was unable to break clear from a lack of fitness, injury and consequent lack of matchplay. Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter and Leon MacDonald were strong replacements.

And yesterday, Mehrtens, a veteran of 66 All Black tests and two World Cups, was punted out of John Mitchell's opening 26-strong All Black squad.

The squad includes a group of exciting new faces - Joe Rokocoko, Ma'a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Daniel Carter - and confirms that lock/loose forward Brad Thorn wants to be an All Black, after turning the offer down two years ago.

Thorn said he was "stoked" at his selection and vowed "no one has to panic that I'm going to flee town".

Blindside flanker Reuben Thorne regains the captaincy and will be expected to start every test. Tana Umaga, 30 today, is vice-captain.

Thorne will lead 10 other Crusaders, eight Blues, four Hurricanes, two Highlanders and Marty Holah from the Chiefs.

Meanwhile Mehrtens would have been in a group of about 30 players who Mitchell had to ring under the collective agreement, to tell them they were surplus to selection for the opening three internationals against England, Wales and France.

Christian Cullen, Taine Randell, Simon Maling, Norm Maxwell, Scott Robertson and Mark Hammett were senior casualties but it is Mehrtens' omission which might yet be most significant.

Mehrtens, like Cullen, Maling and a No 8, still looks to be a frontrunner to return when the squad is extended in late August to 30 players for the World Cup.

But Mitchell made it clear, especially for Mehrtens, that was not guaranteed. The coach did not cut him the slack he did with Cullen and Jonah Lomu last year.

"We as a panel have not seen enough evidence of Andrew in this competition," said Mitchell.

"There are a couple of areas in his game we would like him to improve.

"So really the rest of the season is up to Andrew.

"We know a lot about his past form and what he can offer but players at the moment who are ranked ahead of him are a lot better at taking the ball to the attacking line and defending."

In taking it easy then missing a regular Crusaders start, Mehrtens brings to mind the saying from former Australian cricketer Wally Grout about never giving a sucker an even break.

Spencer, Aaron Mauger and Carter are all now ranked ahead of him and on the historical evidence about Mehrtens' attack and tackling overtaking them could be a struggle.

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones thought Mehrtens looked short of a run in the Super 12 final and needed to be playing more.

"It just looks like he is not 100 per cent at the moment," he said.

Wellington's So'oialo nailed the No 8 job ahead of Robertson, who Mitchell picked two years ago as his preferred back row forward.

So'oialo has an understudy in Jerry Collins but he, like Spencer's deputies, is not a significant threat to his specialist job.

"I thought Rodney's first six weeks of form was outstanding," Mitchell said. "He was then unfortunate to get injured."

He was a great athlete, someone with huge potential for the dry grounds in Australia.

The squad had been chosen with those conditions and a new direction in mind. While the squad had a fresh look, Mitchell was sure it had no weaknesses.

"The game evolves, you can't live in the past with this game because if you do it bites you in the backside."