All Blacks: Toeava must use World Cup to repay panel's faith

Some All Black fans don't believe Isaia Toeava has what it takes at international level. Photo / Getty Images

Scepticism has shadowed the career of Isaia Toeava. His dramatic entry to test football and subsequent supportive hype from the coaching panel who put him there, created a gap between his reputation and ability that he has never quite been able to close.

His burden has been to carry a sense of over-promising and under-delivering and his selection in the World Cup squad was not met with universal approval. He'll never win back some sections of a fanbase who simply don't believe he has what it takes to play international rugby.

But Toeava could be about to write the first compelling chapter of his test career and make the kind of impact at the 2011 World Cup that he was supposedly going to make last time round. This World Cup could be his; this could be his breakthrough moment when finally he shows just why he's held in such high esteem by the current coaching panel.

Such is the nature of the bloated and endless calendar, five months seems a lifetime ago and it's all too easy to forget that in March and April this year, Toeava was the star turn in Super Rugby. He was unquestionably not only the form New Zealand fullback, but the best No 15 in the competition. It wasn't even close - there was even distance between Toeava and Israel Dagg.

Immaculate under the high ball, explosive and deadly when he entered the line and rock solid on defence, Toeava was without fault in the first three months of Super Rugby. It was no coincidence that the Blues lost their way when the 25-year-old's hip injury flared and probably no surprise that he slipped so quickly from the public consciousness as he began yet another long period of rehabilitation.

Out of sight is out of mind and in the case of Toeava there has been no sustained period of test selection or success to make the nation pine. His return to the arena last week was low key, yet he did enough to convince the selectors that he's ready to make his mark.

"He is the sort of footballer who can miss a lot of football and then switch on just like Israel Dagg," said Graham Henry. "That's the beauty of these guys. To be able to do that is testimony to their preparation and personal confidence."

Confidence has been much of the problem for Toeava in the past. His entry to test football was traumatic in that he wasn't ready for it and never really believed he should have been playing at Murrayfield in 2005 as a 19-year-old no one had ever heard of. It hasn't helped him either that his utility value has been perfect for bench duties. First capped at fullback and considered a back-up centre for much of 2006 and 2007, Toeava is probably the best wing in the current squad. He proved that at the end of last year when he usurped Cory Jane and took command of the No 14 shirt.

He's the fastest All Black and also possesses a booming right boot and come the World Cup, it would be a surprise if Toeava isn't starting regularly on the wing.

"He's got everything he needs to be capable of doing that," says Mils Muliaina. "He's come a long way and he's relatively experienced now. He's looking really sharp and he's come a long way in terms of his mental capacity compared with where he was when he was younger. I am hoping he can bring out all his skills and the accuracy he has got - which perhaps people don't see but we do on the training field. He's got the chance to showcase all that in the next few weeks."

It's maybe overstating things to suggest it is now or never for Toeava but his future will be clouded if the tournament passes him by. He'll have the look of a player destined to never fulfil his potential and, having only signed a one-year contract, he'd be a strong candidate to shift offshore in 2012.

The sceptics will believe it when they see it. They won't buy into the idea that Toeava is ready to finally prove himself. But the All Blacks need little convincing.