Master of the art of survival

By WYNNE GRAY

Call him what you like - and he has been the subject of much criticism during his long international career - but Justin Marshall is a survivor.

He has seen off plenty of competition and a career-threatening Achilles tendon injury to be on the cusp of his second World Cup appearance.

He plays his 64th test tonight at Carisbrook, moving past John Kirwan to attack the international longevity of All Black legends such as Sean Fitzpatrick, Ian Jones and Canterbury colleague Andrew Mehrtens, who is becalmed on 66 appearances.

When we meet this week, Marshall is fidgeting with what looks like a No 6 figure on the table, a number many feel best represents his hybrid loose forward-halfback style.

It is a present for his young son, Lachlan, who turned one last Sunday, two days before Marshall ticked off his first 30 years.

All sorts of jibes have come Marshall's way - such as he should have played for Auckland because of his Harbour Bridge passing - but the senior statesman of this season's All Blacks is at peace with his form and presence.

"I remember when I was first involved in 1995 with the older guys and you never viewed them as guys who were just hanging in there," he says. "They were involved because they were the best.

"They were still really keen and I think it makes you more determined when you get older that you have a lot to offer. It makes you more aware that you have to work hard."

Marshall concedes he is no Mehrtens, Carlos Spencer or Jeff Wilson - players with abundant natural talent.

He has had to work ultra-hard at his game, especially the physical fine-tuning, although he has not changed much in his style since his first All Black games back in 1995.

The rugby has altered because professionals have so much more time to devote to their careers, he says.

From his early days in Mataura, Southland, he was a halfback. His father held the same position.

He did not model himself on any other All Black halfbacks, but he admired the way Wallaby skipper Nick Farr-Jones played.

"It might seem strange to nominate an Australian, but I liked the way he went about things, and he was a good exponent of a lot of areas in the game.

"I feel probably more passionate about the game now because of the time I have been involved.

"When you are younger it all seems a bit surreal because of the crowds, and you think it is great and you are really pumped up.

"As you get on I think you appreciate all the things about rugby a lot more."

Marshall does not get as strung-out about tests now. His preparation is pretty routine and he is able to measure his build-up much better.

He is not so edgy at training, worrying about mistakes, but he gets nervous on match-days.

"This set-up we have now is making the guys a lot more relaxed and you can see it by the way they walk around. Everyone is in a good mood and we are not overtrained.

"Even when I tore my hamstring [against England], all I wanted to do was to rehab and get back because I had a taste of this team and I knew I had more to offer," he said.

Marshall concedes that when he returns home to Christchurch for time off, there are moments when he sits back and feels a warm glow about his career.

But reminiscing is not for now. He wants to make this year pay. There will be plenty of time for looking back when his career is over.

His father has tapes of all his tests and some day, Marshall says, he would like to revisit those games.

"It is hard to reflect on your career when it is still going. I just want to get on with the present."

Two of his better tests, he feels, were the huge win against the Wallabies in the sludge at Wellington in 1996 and victory against France at the same venue the following year.

Marshall has heard his critics and at times has responded robustly. But he has learned to back away from those debates.

There were times when he came off the park and felt he played well, only to cop hostile feedback - and vice versa.

"As long as you know you have given enough effort you will keep progressing.

"It is when you start feeling comfortable and listening to what people are saying, then I think you have lost touch with your own game."

When Marshall leaves a test he marks his own card around his distribution, ball-carrying, organisation and defensive work.

"During a test I might have to clear a ball about 60 times and it is not an easy thing to do.

"If two of them roll round the ground, people feel it is a bad thing, but I do not dwell on that so much because it will have been a small part of my day.

"It is difficult for people to see the overall picture for a halfback these days and unfortunately, I feel, former players do not see how the game has moved on.

"For example, passing is important, but it is not the only thing a halfback does in the game these days. He has to have a strong tactical awareness and a wide variety of skills.

"If you just go to a ruck and pass like you used to do, then a defender will be able to push out in defence."

The survivor is not sure what to make of Byron Kelleher's inclusion as an extra halfback in the squad, but knows he has to be on his game as a clutch of others are chasing his job.

Marshall is super-competitive. He is a fighter, a scrapper, and all those attitudes have brought him All Black selection favour with Laurie Mains, John Hart, Wayne Smith and John Mitchell.

He wants to play rugby again next year, but is unsure of where. He is contracted to New Zealand only until the end of the year.

Before he turns his mind to that dilemma, though, he wants to be part of an All Black World Cup-winning squad. That would suit the survivor.