Promotion of Toeava a daring punt

Isaia Toeava came on as a substitute against the Wallabies in Christchurch. Ross Land / Getty Images

Promising? Hell yes. Ready for Bledisloe Cup duty? Possibly. A future All Black regular at centre? Dunno.

That range of curiosity about Isaia Toeava will intensify after the rookie was chosen yesterday to match his skill and wits against the Wallabies on Saturday at Eden Park.

The elevation of such raw talent is the greatest selection punt of the current All Black regime and would rate with other daring picks of yesteryear like the promotion of John Kirwan or Grahame Thorne.

But Saturday is no audition like the one Toeava was pitched into against a mediocre Argentina backline earlier this winter.

This is the real deal against midfielders such as Stirling Mortlock and Matt Giteau and a Wallaby side which ranks in the top echelon.

Naturally the All Black panel defended their choice of the 20-year-old Toeava as the search for the most appropriate centre successor to Tana Umaga continues.

Backline coach Wayne Smith did not accept it was a gamble picking Toeava. The selectors had done a great deal of homework on the youngster and felt he would cope.

"We think we have seen something pretty special in him in a significant period with us," Smith added. "Our gut feeling is he is ready for it and he will be better than just ready."

That belief needed to be tested and the Wallabies on Saturday was the most opportune occasion.

Toeava would benefit from playing on his home ground, he would feel comfortable with team-mates such as Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko alongside and the organisation of Mils Muliaina at fullback.

Coach Graham Henry has been careful to nurture Toeava within the All Blacks since he was promoted for the end-of-year Grand Slam tour. He had been identified as a special player project for next year's World Cup.

After a test debut at fullback and a Super 14 campaign with the Hurricanes where he was mainly used in that role, Toeava is being tested at centre where the selectors feel he can best show off his skills. "I think he has got the qualities of a high-quality test-match player," Henry enthused.

"I think he could be world class. I don't want to put pressure on him so I shouldn't have said that."

Toeava had great speed, a range of skill, he had vision others lacked, he was a very unselfish player and had the physique to handle the collisions in midfield.

Since Umaga retired, the All Blacks have used Ma'a Nonu, Casey Laulala, Toeava and Muliaina at centre while Conrad Smith is still getting back into work after breaking his leg.

Toeava's introduction for his third test start on Saturday means Muliaina has switched to fullback instead of Leon MacDonald. In other changes from the All Blacks' last outing at Brisbane, Rico Gear makes way for Doug Howlett on the right wing and lock Jason Eaton replaces Ali Williams.

A week later the All Blacks play the Springboks in Pretoria and while a great deal of planning had gone into selections for that quick turnaround, those would not be finalised until the squad arrived in South Africa.

There would be changes, though, with hints Chris Masoe would be No 8 in Pretoria. Others likely to be used are frontrowers Greg Somerville and Anton Oliver, Reuben Thorne, Piri Weepu and MacDonald.

Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu may also be recalled if his bruised shoulder has repaired while Auckland captain Sam Tuitupou is the only player from the Tri-Nations squad who will play in this weekend's round of the Air New Zealand Cup.

* Eden Park, Saturday 5.30pm

New Zealand

Mils Muliaina
Doug Howlett
Isaia Toeava
Aaron Mauger
Joe Rokocoko
Dan Carter
Byron Kelleher
Rodney So'oialo
Richie McCaw (c)
Jerry Collins
Jason Eaton
Chris Jack
Carl Hayman
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock

Australia

Chris Latham
Clyde Rathbone
Stirling Mortlock
Matt Giteau
Lote Tuqiri
Stephen Larkham
George Gregan (c)
Wycliff Palu
Phil Waugh
Rocky Elsom
Dan Vickerman
Nathan Sharpe
Rodney Blake
Jeremy Paul
Greg Holmes

Reserves:

New Zealand: Andrew Hore, Greg Somerville, Ali Williams, Chris Masoe, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Leon MacDonald.

Australia: Tai McIsaac, Al Baxter, Mark Chisholm, George Smith, Brett Sheehan, Mark Gerrard, Mat Rogers.