Spencer has all the virtues in the world

MELBOURNE - Creative, imaginative and just occasionally outrageous, All Black first five-eighth Carlos Spencer embodies both the virtues and potential flaw in the most exciting team at the cup.

Spencer's selection this year ahead of Andrew Mehrtens in the side's pivotal position was a clear sign of New Zealand's World Cup intentions.

His elevation after a fractured career was greeted with a mixture of anticipation and alarm by supporters.

Anticipation was stirred by Spencer's outstanding form for the Blues in the Super 12 competition. The alarm stemmed from his erratic goalkicking, although he did kick the goals that mattered against South Africa in the Tri-Nations this year.

On Saturday night, Spencer showed vividly just why coach John Mitchell has placed his faith in the 28-year-old, whose career has been disrupted by injury, fluctuating form and the selectors' preference for the talented if more conventional Mehrtens.

Spencer's sudden acceleration and willingness to take on the defence set up New Zealand's first try over South Africa.

An impudent pass between his legs, greeted with a gasp of delight by the crowd at Telstra Dome, led to the third.

Between times, Spencer displayed the full range of his luminous passing and running skills. Standing wide and deep outside halfback Justin Marshall, he launched attack after attack from the dazzling black-shirted warriors outside him.

New Zealand have also papered over the goalkicking weakness, which could yet prove their fatal flaw in the tournament's final two rounds, by picking Leon MacDonald at centre.

MacDonald has proved an adequate goalkicker, but it is anyone's guess what will happen if first-choice centre Tana Umaga returns from injury for the semifinal against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Back in 1996, Spencer showed glimpses of his potential while playing for the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham.

Defying all conventional wisdom, Spencer at one stage lobbed the ball into space and darted across to receive his own pass, a move so audacious that spectators began to doubt what they had just seen.

In the next year he scored 33 points on his test debut against Argentina, but could not command a regular place until this year.

Four years ago, he left the World Cup early after injuring a knee in training.

Injury struck again on last year's tour of England and France, this time to his shoulder, but through drive and determination Spencer recovered fully and returned to international rugby this year as the first choice in the No 10 jersey.

"The World Cup wasn't my long-term goal," he said. "Being back in the black jersey was my main goal."

As this international season progressed after the loss to England, the man originally from Levin grew in confidence, helping his team to 50-point-plus wins over Australia and South Africa in the Tri-Nations.

He scored four tries in the pool stages before giving what may be his most complete performance in an All Blacks jersey on Saturday night.

"We knew we had to go out there and step up," Spencer said.

"We had the space and we used it. The guys were positive and turned it into points.

"The combinations really paid off and worked well for us."

Spencer's contribution starts before the kickoff. This year he has been entrusted with leading the haka. Spencer, his family tattoo prominent on his left forearm, has coaxed performances of increasing ferocity from his team-mates as the tournament has progressed.

With his help New Zealand must now be favourites.

- REUTERS

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