Big Mac can do a Rush job

Angus MacDonald

It's kind of handy for Angus MacDonald that Auckland will be looking for both a new No 8 and captain next season. Handy because MacDonald, after two seriously impressive performances for the Maori, may be the answer on both fronts.

Captaincy is nothing new. Last year MacDonald led Auckland a couple of times when Xavier Rush was away with the All Blacks. Leadership sits well with the 24-year-old and he's a candidate to take on the captaincy when Rush heads to Cardiff after the NPC.

But the possibility of him inheriting Rush's No 8 shirt was not on the agenda until he turned in two first-class efforts for the Maori against Fiji and the Lions. It's probably not wise to be hyping MacDonald on the back of just two games but he was so commanding and effective at Waikato Stadium last week, there was an overwhelming sense of watching a player who had at last found his natural home.

After forcing his way to the fringes of test selection in 2003, MacDonald has spent the last couple of years fading into obscurity. He's yet another utility forward, blessed/cursed with the ability to play both lock and blindside.

MacDonald admits the last two years have been frustrating. "I wanted to concentrate on blindside but as I played lock as well, the coaches used me there to help out when we had injuries. It's been frustrating. But has helped me learn a lot and mature."

The positive spin can't hide the relief MacDonald clearly feels at having found his true calling. While coaches use the word 'versatile' to categorise players they are not quite sure what to do with, players talk about learning curves when they really mean they are far from happy.

The onus is now on MacDonald to prove the last two weeks were not a case of beginner's luck.

MacDonald can tick all of the important boxes. At 1.96m and 105kg he's big enough. He carries the ball well and is able to play it both tight and get to the ball when it goes a bit wider. As a bonus, he comes with considerable lineout ability.

His Auckland coach, Pat Lam, a man who knows a thing or two about the No 8 berth, believes that MacDonald's experience on the blindside will be invaluable in learning his new role.

"We talked about it before he went away with the Maori. We felt that lock, where he had played a lot of his football, was not the answer. We discussed No 8 as we felt he had the intelligence and skills at the breakdown. It's early days, he hasn't played much in the position, but we think he can develop there. We think he could play anywhere in the back row, even at openside, because he's so good at the tackled ball.

"I think there are so many similarities between six and eight now that it's a case of getting the balance right. We could play Angus at No 8 if we have the right guys at Nos 6 and 7."

It's possible that MacDonald may get another game at No 8 against the Lions. Probably, though, Rush will get the nod, with MacDonald and Daniel Braid completing the trio.

The plan may be to phase MacDonald in over the course of the NPC.

But neither MacDonald nor Lam are focusing further ahead than July 5, when they'll get a crack at what is likely to be a tired second-string Lions with one foot on the plane.

Lam, however, is adamant they'll be looking to finish their tour in style.

MacDonald is also sure the challenge will be stiff. "It was brilliant to beat them with the Maori but I definitely knew the next day that I'd been in a game. They are very physical at ruck and maul as well as the set piece - a very tough side to play against."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY