Bench-warming frustration over for Steinmetz

By CHRIS RATTUE

You can almost hear the astonishment in Paul Steinmetz's voice when he is asked about the clamour in some quarters to get him into the All Blacks this year.

It is hardly surprising. Just a few weeks ago he was doing what he has been doing in the Super 12 for the past three years - watching the action from the sideline.

Until Hurricanes coach Graham Mourie took the plunge and injected the playmaker into his backline, undoubtedly in an effort to get more out of his brilliant outside backs, Steinmetz was a classic benchwarmer.

"It was very frustrating," says Steinmetz. "I was speaking to a friend of the family about it and he said, 'It looks like it's just going to be one of those years for you again'.

"I really didn't expect things to change. I think they [the Hurricanes] just ran out of things to do and gave me a go."

Standing in Steinmetz's way was Jason O'Halloran, a Wellington hero who, many claimed, was destined to be one of those characters unfairly overlooked by the national selectors.

O'Halloran can call himself a test All Black now, thanks to 11 minutes against Italy in Genoa last year.

But just as O'Halloran was about to get the recognition many in Wellington, and other parts of the country, believed he deserved, he is now on the Super 12 bench.

Steinmetz had already had an influence on the shape of the Wellington and Hurricanes backline, although not in a way he would have wished.

As a 21-year-old, the former national Colt was selected as the back-up first five-eighths to Stephen Bachop in Frank Oliver's Hurricanes in 1998.

But before he could get on the field, Steinmetz wrecked a hamstring and never saw the light of the Super 12 days again that year.

His replacement, Northland's David Holwell, has gone on to become the linchpin of the NPC and Super 12 backline after a shaky start when many doubted he had the ability to play at that level.

Steinmetz never made it on to the Super 12 field in 1999 either, and had just three substitute appearances last season.

It was not looking much brighter for him this season until four rounds ago when he was given a start against the Cats in Bloemfontein, a match controversially lost when the Hurricanes' coaches opted to go for a late try rather than a simple penalty for a draw - a decision which reflected their lowly position on the table at the time.

Still, Steinmetz made an immediate impression.

He was probably helped in that his introduction came when Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu were finding fitness and form, and Tana Umaga had begun to come to grips with playing at centre.

But Steinmetz's influence was clear. He had a clever passing and chip kicking game, and was prepared to try and break up defences with more variety than O'Halloran could offer.

"I think I was a bit lucky. The ball just seemed to bounce my way," says Steinmetz.

The Paraparaumu-born player also believes his experience as a first five-eighths has helped him develop a playmaking game, although he is sure that second five-eighths is his true position.

"I wasn't a first five-eighths by choice. I'd played in a lot of backline positions through the grades but I'd never really found a home in any."

"I think there is so much to first five that you really need to have been brought up playing there to cope at this level.

"But I feel my background at first five does help me where I am now."

Steinmetz's background included a promising tennis career.

As a junior, he had a national ranking around six, and played as the Wellington senior No 1 when he was 18.

"Once I looked at where New Zealand stood worldwide in tennis it wasn't really a hard decision to decide rugby was the way to go," he says. "I haven't picked up a racket in four years."

The present for Steinmetz includes another sport, hockey.

His girlfriend, Rachel Sutherland, is a member of the national side.

And the future? That All Black question keeps popping up.

"There is an opening in Wellington and New Zealand rugby for a player like me at second five-eighths," he says.

"But in terms of the All Blacks, I've got a lot more to learn.

"For a start, I'd like to put on a few more kilos - there's quite a bit I've got to improve on."