Lee Stensness: McAlister's huge talent is hindering his chances of All Black selection

In the week containing St Patrick's Day it is probably appropriate to talk about Murphy's Law.

The Blues have been victims of Murphy's Law of late in that the only position where they don't have specialist cover, centre, is the position where they have had persistent injury troubles.

The Blues' first choice centre, Ben Atiga, has been out with hamstring problems for the entire Super 12 to date, leading them to play the undoubtedly talented Luke McAlister out of position. Doubly out of position in fact, for McAlister would be at home at either first or second five-eighths. But, through no fault of his own except his own overflowing ability, he is playing in an unfamiliar position and one at which, at this level, he is uncomfortable.

McAlister has had to fill in for two main reasons. Firstly, the other alternative, Mils Muliaina, wishes to stay at fullback and rightly so. Muliaina has gazed into the crystal ball, as all players do, and deduced that if he wishes to play against the Lions he will only do so as a fullback because barring injury, touch wood, Tana Umaga will be the All Black centre.

Mils, except for last week against the Chiefs, has been and is the best No 15 in the country and, I believe, the world. It is justifiable for him to wish to remain there.

Secondly, McAlister is a victim of his own talent. He has natural attributes which could make him a centre, such as pace and vision, coupled with the fact he must be in the starting line-up as he is the best goal kicker in the squad.

But for McAlister to play in an unfamiliar position at an unfamiliar level (it's easy to forget that last night was only his sixth match at Super 12 level), places unrealistic expectations and demands on him. The difference between playing second-five and centre at that level is significant, especially on defence.

The defensive requirements at centre are more demanding and varied. In general, the players the centre has to tackle run more varied lines and at greater speed than those the second-five has to defend.

At second-five, attacking runners, mainly the opposition centre, come down much the same channel at lower than top speed and look for confrontation, rightly or wrongly, to get over the advantage line and commit defenders. This makes the second-five's job fairly consistent.

At centre, the attacking runners are usually wingers or fullbacks at top pace. They can and do run a multitude of lines and therefore positioning and decision-making on defence becomes more subtle and critical for the centre.

These defensive subtleties take time to learn. Consider the examples of Joe Stanley, Frank Bunce and Umaga himself, all of whom were around or over 30 and had been playing there for years before they mastered the position. Much like props and red wine, centres need time to mature. McAlister is doing what is best for his team, even though in the short term it is not the best for him.

Even with his outstanding skills and ability, and his Scottish surname, he needs "the luck of the Irish" to battle through the influence of Murphy's Law.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY