Selectors defend Muliaina switch

The "world's best fullback" will face Stirling Mortlock in midfield on Saturday. Ross Land / Getty Images

CHRISTCHURCH - Eenee, meenee, mynee, Mils.

After what seemed a policy of trying anyone but Mils Muliaina at centre, the All Black selectors confirmed the switch yesterday to set up a delicious subplot in Saturday's start to the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations series.

Muliaina will square off in midfield against Stirling Mortlock, one of the Wallaby trump cards who has inherited the reputation of the best centre in the Southern Hemisphere since Tana Umaga's decision to quit international rugby.

Coach Graham Henry would not admit the decision showed a lack of depth at centre; he preferred to think of it as a way of accommodating their best players, with Leon MacDonald slipping into the fullback role.

Nor was the coach buying any suggestion he was heading towards the kind of mishaps which afflicted the All Blacks in their last two World Cup campaigns when they switched Christian Cullen to centre in 1999 and MacDonald to the berth for the 2003 campaign.

Whatever the rationale, there is an vexed look to Muliaina's move, a feeling that, had Ma'a Nonu, Casey Laulala or Isaia Toeava delivered more substance they would have earned a repeat selection.

Instead, even with an injured Conrad Smith likely to return for the end-of-year tour, Henry and his selectors have shifted "the best fullback in the world" to centre.

Does that suggest a lack of trust in any of the others - even Nonu before he broke his left thumb - to stand up to the Wallabies? Or is Muliaina going to be shown the same single test opportunity the others have had?

Is this just another of the many experiments the All Black selectors want to try before settling on the core of their World Cup squad later this season?

In making nine changes from the side which beat Argentina, the spotlight yesterday was on the All Blacks as the Wallabies unveiled an unchanged combination from that which beat Ireland in Perth. A recovered Mat Rogers stayed in midfield while Matt Giteau and Ben Tune were recalled to the bench.

Despite the widespread All Black changes, the conversation with the coaches kept returning to Muliaina and his role in the side.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith pointed out that Muliaina was originally a centre who converted to fullback and Henry spoke about the 25-year-old's contribution for Auckland and the Blues in 2002-3 at centre and in several appearances this season for the Chiefs.

Muliaina's distribution under pressure, his positional nous and feel for playing centre persuaded the selectors to use him in the No 13 jersey at Christchurch on Saturday.

This will be the eighth change at centre in as many All Black tests since the Grand Slam tour last year.

"We have no doubts at all," said Henry about any lack of backline cohesion.

"It is a pretty experienced rugby team, isn't it? That backline has played a lot of test matches and quite a few together, maybe not in those positions, but they are mature, they have experienced topline rugby and they will be able to handle Saturday."

The team had been reminded at a meeting last week of the dangers of complacency in their attitude towards the expanded six-test series with the Wallabies and Springboks.

"We have not lost a test match for a year and I think that is a concern, not that I want to lose a test match," Henry said.

"But I think young people in any walk of life when they have had a lot of success are inclined to get a wee bit comfortable with that and you don't want to learn by getting beaten.

"I'm sure it will happen one day and maybe happen reasonably soon - who knows?"

* Jade Stadium, 7.30pm Saturday

All Blacks

Leon MacDonald
Rico Gear
Mils Muliaina
Aaron Mauger
Joe Rokocoko
Daniel Carter
Byron Kelleher
Rodney So'oialo
Richie McCaw (c)
Jerry Collins
Jason Eaton
Chris Jack
Carl Hayman
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock

Australia

Chris Latham
Mark Gerrard
Stirling Mortlock
Mat Rogers
Lote Tuqiri
Stephen Larkham
George Gregan (c)
Rocky Elsom
George Smith
Mark Chisholm
Dan Vickerman
Nathan Sharpe
Guy Shepherdson
Tai McIsaac
Greg Holmes

All Blacks: Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Piri Weepu, Chris Masoe, Ali Williams, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore.

Australia: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, Scott Fava, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Ben Tune, Matt Giteau.