Wynne Gray: Central question of Umaga's spot has all agog

Conjecture about the next All Black centre will continue to dominate discussion for the rest of the Super 14.

It is a natural consequence of Tana Umaga's retirement which left a definite test vacancy, one which became more blurred with the ill-starred injury-exit of Conrad Smith.

Who will grasp that opportunity? Candidates will be gauged on their talents, the calibre of the opposition and, most critically, how well they rate against the criteria of the All Black panel.

Those selectors will be shuffling through their order of preference for the opening June 10 test against Ireland in Hamilton.

By coincidence it was at that same superb ground that Mils Muliaina made his first test start for the All Blacks in 2003.

He had made his debut a week earlier when he went on as a sub for eight minutes against England and his test start, at fullback, only occurred because Leon MacDonald was struggling with the effects of a head injury.

That year ended at the World Cup with Muliaina entrenched as fullback and MacDonald playing at centre.

The big poser is whether those test positions will be reversed this season. MacDonald's form may be the key to the decision and he is playing very strongly for the champion Crusaders.

Since he became All Black coach, Graham Henry has used Muliaina at fullback, right and left wing while MacDonald has played fullback and first five-eighths. Both have started the Super 14 series in strong form at fullback, a position in which the selectors created more depth when they chose Isaia Toeava on the Grand Slam tour.

With the removal of both Umaga and Smith, the list of possible test centres has been cropped.

Suddenly it seemed Ma'a Nonu had edged into favouritism. There were others like Casey Laulala, Caleb Ralph and Ben Atiga who had been bit-part All Blacks but not really kicked on, Anthony Tuitavake and Neil Brew who were unproven, Luke McAlister and Aaron Mauger who were better suited closer to the scrum.

There were whispers Rico Gear fancied himself at centre but if someone had to make the positional switch, Muliaina looked the goods.

It seemed a matter of time before Chiefs coach Ian Foster would make the call. The change came on Friday through injury with Muliaina called up to centre after halftime.

His speed, agility and deft offloads under pressure were rapid reminders of his midfield class, his capacity to play in the No 13 jersey.

Muliaina does not have the explosive attack Nonu delivers but then he does not have the brain explosions Nonu has either. There is a composure about Muliaina's play while Nonu is more capricious. He's more dangerous too with the ball but like Ali Williams and a few others, Nonu's play also invites close refereeing inspection.

He was hard done by in Bloemfontein when he was sinbinned on a touch judge's report but there remains that imprudent element.

Meanwhile on Saturday night, MacDonald's attacking thrusts, positional competence and organisation at fullback will add more debate about the merits of shifting Muliaina to centre.

Then again the All Black selectors might want a straight fullback choice between MacDonald and Muliaina - a comparison which will depend on the Chiefs' and Crusaders' decisions for Friday's clash in Hamilton.