Need for physical presence chance for Kahui to wing it

Richard Kahui could find himself on the wing in the opening match as the All Blacks look for a greater physical presence in their back three. Photo / Getty Images

If Richard Kahui thought his World Cup might be all about sitting in the stands waiting for his chance to play at centre, he might have to re-think that. There is a chance now he'll find himself on the right wing in the opening game as the All Blacks look for a greater physical presence and explosive athlete in their back three.

Having spent the last few months trying to get to grips with a supposed embarrassment of riches in their back three, the All Blacks looked strangely lacking in that area against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Zac Guildford had a horrid night and Cory Jane couldn't get into the game and, in this cut-throat environment, certainly the former and probably the latter, are unlikely to start the next test against Tonga.

Isaia Toeava will most likely take residence on one wing and then the choice will have to be made between Jane, Israel Dagg and Kahui for the other spot. Dagg would be a hugely popular choice with the public, but coach Graham Henry is reluctant to use the Crusaders fullback out of position.

"Maybe not everyone agrees with me but I think he is a better fullback than he is a wing so if we are going to start him I think his best position is 15," says Henry. "We have four other guys who can play wing. We predominantly see him as a 15 rather than a wing."

Committed, versatile, tough as they come and professional to his core, Richard Kahui is a small mercy for which the All Blacks should be thankful. He is predominantly seen as a centre but there has been and remains a willingness to use him on the wing. At 1.90m and 102kg, Kahui is good in the air, strong in the tackle and just about quick enough to live with the super-fast. There is more than just his frame and athletic attributes to like. Kahui has a healthy respect for old school values; sees hard work as the only route to stardom and doesn't have to wrestle or deal with an oversized ego. He is the kind of bloke that would seriously consider cutting off a finger if it would get him on the field and help the cause.

Surrounded by higher profile, bigger names, Kahui is pleasingly low maintenance and probably has more reason than most to be miffed at his continued lack of opportunity. In an injury-ravaged career, Kahui has made a memorably good impression in his 12 tests.

He scored with his first touch of the ball in 2008, rattled the Scots big time at Murrayfield later that year and scored a try against South Africa a few weeks ago that required extraordinary timing, brute strength, pace and awareness. If anyone wonders why Conrad Smith is playing so well, it has much to do with the lurking threat of Kahui. The 26-year-old is a big game player - one of those blessed creatures who find something extra when he slips on the black jersey. Plenty of young talents have seen promising careers sink in the test arena - their natural ability rammed into neutral by a temperament not equipped to cope.

Kahui was under huge pressure in Port Elizabeth and no one would ever have known. Asked to play on the wing in 2008 he didn't blink - out he went and looked like he'd been there most of his playing days. It's that composure that will draw the selectors to him in the next few days. Guildford is an all-but-cooked goose; Jane isn't making a compelling case and Dagg is apparently being held prisoner by his excellence in another jersey.

The temptation to play Kahui on the wing will be hard to resist. The All Blacks are a little shaky, they need a good start, a confidence-boosting performance and result. Kahui is safe, he's rugged and he'll be comfortable with the Tongans trying to take his head off.

Should, he be overlooked as a wing, there is still good reason to be thankful for Kahui. The All Blacks have developed the unwelcome and utterly bizarre custom of switching fullbacks to centre for World Cups. At the heart of this oddity has been a combination of bad luck, injury, lack of depth and selectors just about losing it.

Kahui, if nothing else, is a cast-iron guarantee that such nonsense will not happen in 2011; a specialist centre will be in the No 13 jersey unless there is a random series of unfortunate events. Henry has acknowledged that, with a wry smile and a hint of sarcasm. "Richard, Conrad, Ma'a [Nonu] and Ice [Toeava] can all play 13 and we have a number of guys who can play 15. So we might play three centres and four fullbacks, who knows."