KEY POINTS:
It's doubtful Isaia Toeava will ever fully shake the "special project" tag that has adorned his neck like a dead albatross since he was called into the All Blacks as a raw 19-year-old with just eight NPC matches to his name.
Whether a player whose confidence appears so
fragile should have been a project of any kind at such a formative stage is highly questionable, but the part of his unwanted moniker that will most likely stick with a player who is still just 22 is "special".
It does, after all, take a special kind of player to fill every position in the backline bar halfback with aplomb.
A week after producing a timely reminder of his ability with a solid 60-minute cameo on the wing for the All Blacks in Cape Town, Toeava has been handed the job of resurrecting Auckland's stillborn attacking game.
Auckland coach Pat Lam has named him at first five-eighths for today's Ranfurly Shield defence against Manawatu, switching Lachie Munro to fullback.
Toeava is better known as a fullback or midfielder but Lam has high hopes he will prove effective at first five-eighths, perhaps even filling what looks to be a gaping hole in the Blues.
"Ice is obviously a lot more experienced and that is where he played for us when he first came in," Lam said of the switch. "And the other thing is the combination with [halfback] Taniela Moa. They played First XV together, New Zealand Schools together and their first games for Auckland were together at 9 and 10."
It's a move that has been coming for a while, with Toeava spending time at first five-eighths during the team's pre-season trip to Queensland after a heart-to-heart with Lam about his future following his omission from the first All Blacks squad of the year.
"We had a good chat and our focus was to get him back in the All Blacks, to get his confidence up. We talked about him being our new Ica Nacewa, who could play 10 to fullback.
"He has the ability, there is no question of that."
Toeava will be bolstered by the reassuring presence of Benson Stanley, who returns to second five-eighths after a nine-week layoff with a fractured leg.
Auckland have also been boosted by the return of Keven Mealamu and John Afoa. With Daniel Braid and Kurtis Haiu on the flanks the pack suddenly has a formidable look about it.
Veteran prop Nick White is the notable omission from the side, having been dropped from the 22 altogether.
