Mils Muliaina

Mils Muliaina. Photo / Getty Images

How old is too old?

Mils Muliaina has been a loyal and reliable servant of New Zealand rugby. As a fullback he has managed the rare feat of excelling as an attacking menace while providing the kind of solidity and positional nous at the back that lets fans - and coaches - breathe easy.

He has earned his place as a favourite of the coaching panel with consistently excellent performances since making his debut as a 22-year-old against England in 2003.

He's filled in at centre and on the wing and his timely touches freed the dazzling talents of those around him to best effect.

He was the equal-top try-scorer at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. And all has been done in an efficient and mistake-free fashion. He is believed to be the only man Graham Henry has kissed on national television.

But Muliaina is getting on. He's into his 31st year and only one fullback has lifted the World Cup past the age of 30 (Percy Montgomery, in 2007).

In his four test outings this year, he's looked unusually off the pace, while in one test outing, the mercurial Israel Dagg laid down a strong marker for the test No 15 jersey. Nonetheless, Muliaina would be regarded as a safer defensive player than Dagg.

A Southlander, he came north to attend Kelston Boys' High School, where Graham Henry was principal, and was quickly into age-group teams. From that day, the black jersey has looked natural on his shoulders, but is it time for a change?

Position: Fullback
Tests: 98
Born: July 31, 1980, in Salesi, Western Samoa
Stats: 1.84m, 92kg

Waikato and Chiefs