Jamie Joseph appears to be taking the same fearless approach into his fledgling coaching career that made him such an uncompromising player.
The rookie Wellington head coach has recalled young first five-eighths Daniel Kirkpatrick for tomorrow's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Auckland at Eden Park. Kirkpatrick, a New ZealandUnder 20s star, has not played a national championship match since injuring his shoulder in round two against North Harbour and will be making just his sixth appearance overall.
"Oh well, he's a good player, mate," said Joseph of the surprise selection for a match that Wellingtonians will see as a golden chance to break a 26-year Shield hoodoo.
Such is the esteem in which Kirkpatrick is held that former first choice Jimmy Gopperth was dispatched to North Harbour on loan.
Since Kirkpatrick's injury the Lions have mixed and matched, with Fa'atonu Fili, Michael Hobbs and Piri Weepu sharing the No 10 duties. It had been suggested Weepu would again be asked to reprise a role he has filled at Super 14 level.
Isaia Toeava, Auckland's makeshift first five-eighths, even said he and Weepu chatted on the plane back from Brisbane and the All Blacks' test victory over the Wallabies about the prospect of facing off against each other.
But Joseph clearly had other ideas after Kirkpatrick impressed in his comeback match for Wellington B last week.
Weepu was too valuable at halfback to shift unless absolutely necessary, he said.
Auckland coach Shane Howarth, who has bracketed injured openside Daniel Braid with Onosa'i Auva'a and rotated prop Nick White back into his front row, did not quite see it the same way. Auckland would need to pull "six or seven" rabbits out of the hat to retain the Shield, Howarth said.
"You just have to look at both campaigns. You can always say 'oh we are underdogs' but we are. End of story. They are 7-0 and every game has been a bonus point. We have been up and down on a bit of a roller-coaster."
Chris Masoe will start on the openside for Wellington in place of the injured Serge Lilo. Lilo's second successive season-ending injury has left Wellington fuming after Waikato lock Kevin O'Neil was cleared of any wrongdoing in last week's match.
