KEY POINTS:
This time last year, the All Black coaches were working through the detail of their reconditioning programme.
Some players targeted for an enforced Super rugby stand-down were reluctant. A few wanted to play, fearing the consequences of allowing others an unchallenged tilt at making the All Blacks.
The
New Zealand Rugby Players Association worked with the coaches, as they had to determine whether any reconditioning player would have an employment grievance if he was omitted from the World Cup squad.
They couldn't see grounds for concern. No reconditioning player was guaranteed a World Cup place, but it was made clear they would be given every opportunity during the early season tests and Tri Nations to cement their place.
After consultation, all 22 players nominated agreed to spend the first three months of 2007 training rather than playing. All were buoyed by the certainty there would have to be a definite change in the selectors' thinking for anyone to be omitted from the World Cup squad.
On July 22, Piri Weepu discovered there had in fact been a very definite change in the selectors' thinking. He was out of the 30 - the only non-injured player in the conditioning 22 not required for duty in France.
Head coach Graham Henry said that change was the result of Weepu's disappointing form during the Tri Nations. He made little impact off the bench in Melbourne and for 50-odd minutes in Christchurch against the Boks, he borrowed all the worst bits of George Gregan's game and sauntered across the compass without engaging the South African fringe defence.
If his fate wasn't sealed as he trudged towards the sideline, it was 10 minutes later when his replacement, Brendon Leonard, collected Joe Rokocoko's inside pass and scored the game's opening try.
The selectors probably didn't even know Leonard's name when putting together their conditioning 22. One year on, though, and they not only knew Leonard's name, they also knew he was an absolute must-have for their first-choice 22.
The 22-year-old has the skills to change a game. He's an attacking halfback who has that priceless ability to make yards around the fringes and force opposition backrows to stay tight to the breakdown.
Once Henry and his team had been convinced by Leonard, they had to evaluate whether Weepu was still right as the third halfback.
It's a tough gig being third choice. There's oodles of training and not much playing. In 2005 the coaches had been wary of how Justin Marshall would react to being on the bench during the Lions campaign.
Would his ego cope with not playing from the start? Would he be a negative, bitter influence if he didn't get his own way?
These questions had to be asked about Weepu and it would seem there were concerns about his ability to handle life on the fringe.
On the tour to Europe last year Weepu was told his weight was a problem. He was close to 100kg and that excess restricted his impact.
Those who know Weepu say he was hurt by that assessment and the demotion to number three halfback. That initial hurt, said some, led to moody introspection that could easily have been interpreted as petulance.
In a squad with a mantra of "better people make better All Blacks," players need to have a positive mind-set, contribute to off-field harmony and subscribe to the peer-group codes.
It's probable that, despite Weepu's efforts in shedding weight, the panel still had doubts. Andy Ellis, who had leapfrogged Weepu on tour, impressed with his attitude and character.
It is understood Crusaders coach Robbie Deans was asked to explain his reluctance to play Ellis consistently during the Super 14. The All Black coaches remained keen on the Cantabrian but when Leonard came through strongly and a slimmed down Weepu emerged in the latter rounds, there was no place for Ellis.
When Weepu didn't take his opportunity and Ellis delivered some steady work with the Junior All Blacks, that doubt planted in the coaches' minds on tour became a factor.
There were whispers during the Tri Nations that some players not seeing much game time were struggling to make a positive contribution.
Things came to a head on the Thursday before the Bledisloe decider when six players - Weepu, Conrad Smith, Rico Gear, Ross Filipo, John Schwalger and Troy Flavell - were fined for staying out until 4am.
Boredom and frustration would be big challenges in France for the third halfback. Weepu's decision was perhaps symptomatic of someone whose professionalism could be questionable.
The selectors obviously held more doubts about Weepu than about Ellis.