MacDonald closes in on test berth

Grant McQuoid (left) and Simms Davison put paid to Leon MacDonald's run in Bay of Plenty's NPC loss to Canterbury at Jade Stadium. Picture / Photosport

After a false start against the Lions and the latest round of NPC action, the All Black selectors may have been persuaded that Leon MacDonald should start as first five-eighths for the vital Tri-Nations test against the Springboks.

The panel has been considering its options for a week since the vacancy was confirmed when x-rays revealed Daniel Carter had broken his left leg in the Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney.

Debate about his replacement has engulfed the nation with arguments given a little more substance after the prime contenders, MacDonald and Luke McAlister, were shifted to first five-eighths following requests from the national selectors.

Evaluations were to continue today in Dunedin when the All Blacks squad assembled with the selectors reviewing the NPC and the problems that will be posed on Saturday by the unbeaten Tri-Nations title-holders.

Six weeks ago, MacDonald was the choice for the third test against the Lions when Carter and Aaron Mauger were injured.

Even with those absences, there was no thought of calling up McAlister until MacDonald also withdrew with groin muscle damage.

McAlister offered some variable direction in the Eden Park test, kicked flawlessly for goal and had the advantage of playing outside the experience of Byron Kelleher and Justin Marshall.

Neither of those halfbacks is likely to be at Carisbrook.

A novice test combination of Piri Weepu and McAlister would be asking a great deal of the youngsters in what is likely to be a combustible atmosphere against the rushing South African offence at Carisbrook.

For all Weepu's physical presence, his decisions are sometimes askew and it would increase the risk if he and the rookie McAlister were in charge of the backline.

On the evidence of his work for Canterbury against Bay of Plenty on Saturday, MacDonald appeared more assured on the ball and with the management of his backline than McAlister did for North Harbour.

That may be put down to the experience MacDonald has accrued in his career of training under fire, which will count for a great deal at Carisbrook.

The Springbok rush defence has already troubled the inventive expression and direction of Carter, Stephen Larkham and Matt Giteau during this Tri-Nations.

Under even more intense glare at Carisbrook, the selectors may consider it better to start with the international acumen MacDonald has learned in his 29 tests.

Both candidates are physical but MacDonald impresses as being more accurate on defence, although McAlister would overshadow him on goalkicking expertise.

The successful candidate will have to alter his mindset, McAlister from his more usual midfield role and MacDonald from the fullback job where he has been preferred by the All Blacks.

Switching MacDonald would go against some of the All Black preachings about developing and using specialists in each position.

But time is the selectors' enemy, with the next line of understudies such as Stephen Donald, Nick Evans and Tasesa Lavea all unfamiliar with the All Black patterns this season.

Of that trio, Donald may have been marginally better in the weekend's NPC, but elevation of any may have to wait until the end-of-year tour or some other untimely injury.

* Springboks winger Breyton Paulse will miss Saturday's test after being suspended for three weeks yesterday for kicking Wallabies prop Al Baxter.

Paulse admitted kicking Baxter in the final few minutes of Saturday's match in Perth.