Lee Stensness: Mehrtens or Carter - Deans' dilemma is one to envy

Robbie Deans is suffering from the 'problem' that the other New Zealand Super 12 coaches (bar Peter Sloane) would love to have, namely the choice between Andrew Mehrtens and Daniel Carter as the starting first five-eighths for the Crusaders.

What a problem to have. A choice between two of the three best No 10s in the country - the other, of course, being Carlos Spencer.

As Murray Mexted said during yesterday's Crusaders' thrashing of the Reds, Mehrtens is "everybody's favourite".

Everybody's favourite except Robbie Deans and Deans is the man who counts most. Deans showed last year that he wasn't afraid to fly in the face of popular sentiment and not play Canterbury's favourite son.

Mehrtens' form at the beginning of last season warranted non-selection but since then he has been back to his best. But is his best good enough to get ahead of wonder kid, Daniel Carter?

Carter represents the future and Mehrtens represents the past. Mehrtens learned his trade in the amateur era, whereas Carter has only known the professional era. This key difference is highlighted by Mehrtens' key weakness - defence.

In the good old amateur days it was generally accepted that first fives didn't have to tackle - that's what loose forwards were for.

Nowadays a number 10 must be unyielding on the tackle, as most teams target that area to get across the advantage line from set pieces.

Carter is more than solid in that area but Mehrtens remains a reluctant tackler.

In most other aspects of first five-eighths play - such as goal-kicking, punting, speed off the mark and restarts - the two are very even. Mehrtens shades Carter in terms of vision, experience and passing.

Carter, on the other hand, has the advantage in terms of tackling and the ability to take the ball to the line.

These last two are vital in the modern game and are the reasons why Deans will prefer Carter.

In the subtle versus the direct, direct wins.

Mehrtens' involvement in the tsunami match was perfectly timed for Deans. It enabled him to slip Carter into 10 without controversy and the old adage of not changing a winning team will enable him to remain there. although hopefully the Blues will have something to say about that next week.

Carter represents the future and, unfor-tunately for Mehrtens, the future is here now.