KEY POINTS:
The All Black selectors' reluctance to reveal their standby list of players for the World Cup has fuelled some extraordinary notions. One of the better ones is that if a centre is dinged, former skipper Tana Umaga will receive the SOS.
That conjecture concludes that neither centre going to the World Cup - Isaia Toeava and Conrad Smith - has been a raging success and that if either was forced out of the tournament, Umaga would be the best replacement.
Even if he was not fully conditioned, his experience and match savvy would compensate. And he was familiar with conditions in France and acclimatised in his new role as director of rugby for the Toulon club.
That speculation, if anything, continues the inspection on one of the few pressure points in the All Blacks. For people to believe that two years after leaving the international arena, Umaga would be able to slip back into the role, says a great deal about the midfield resources.
Umaga plays his 100th game for Wellington tonight and is on his way to France next week. He has said this will be his last game of rugby. No matter Umaga's insistence, there are enough people who believe he should be on standby for the World Cup.
They have not been watching Umaga closely enough since he played his 74th and last test on the Grand Slam tour. The 34-year-old moved on from the All Blacks faster than the selectors dealt with his departure.
He played without much of his customary venom in the Super 14. Mentally, he had benched his playing career although he wanted to join the century-club with Wellington.
Umaga is off-contract and heading to Toulon where it is believed he will be one of the highest-paid coaches in the world. Not bad for someone with little experience but with Anton Oliver, Victor Matfield, George Gregan and Andrew Mehrtens around the forwards and backs should be covered.
The French club competition has been delayed until the end of the World Cup and even if Umaga was asked to help out in that tournament, the small matter of his book launch and roadshow in New Zealand towards the end of September would offer another obstacle.
An All Blacks standby list will include Rico Gear, Steven Brett, Ross Filipo, Troy Flavell, Marty Holah (who is leaving for a contract with the Welsh club Ospreys later this year) possibly Ma'a Nonu, Casey Laulala or Anthony Tuitavake.
But you suspect that if there is a crisis at centre through injury or form, that Mils Muliaina will transfer his talents from fullback.
