KEY POINTS:
Blues hooker Keven Mealamu was a beneficiary of the All Blacks' first reconditioning programme.
He won his first test cap against Wales in 2002 in Cardiff when coach John Mitchell decided he would leave 21 of his senior players at home to recover from the rigours of the
season or have minor surgery to prepare them for the World Cup the next year.
Five years after Mitchell's prototype protection plan, Mealamu is working hard to get back into full rugby rhythm after being released from national reconditioning duty during the initial part of the Super 14 series.
"I'm not feeling too bad, not going too badly but I would like some more games," Mealamu said before the Blues' pool match tonight against the Force in Perth.
"I feel like I am playing better and certainly feel a lot better than I did in my first game back."
Mealamu has started three games for the Blues since his return from vast tracts of fitness work with the All Blacks. He is expected to get time from the bench at Subiaco Oval as Blues coach David Nucifora juggles his resources in the Blues' search for a win to confirm their semifinal place.
Derren Witcombe will start as hooker with Mealamu more likely to bring the impact needed in the latter stages of the match.
The 28-year-old Mealamu will publicly downplay his All Black chances this season, he works on never taking anything for granted, he does not want to sound conceited. It is a common courtesy, manners - and anyway, his roommate in Perth, Witcombe, can overhear the conversation.
Out loud, Mealamu will wonder whether others from outside the conditioning group such as Witcombe, Corey Flynn or Tom Willis have made inroads for All Black selection through regular play in the Super 14 and whether that will propel them into the World Cup squad.
Mealamu can wonder all he likes but injury will surely be the only obstacle to his selection for a second World Cup.
Mealamu pushed on from the original All Black chance he got five years ago.
His play impressed Mitchell so much he became the premium All Black hooker at the World Cup - with assistance from Mark Hammett and Flynn - while previous frontrunners Anton Oliver and Andrew Hore fell from favour.
Subsequently Mitchell disappeared as All Black coach but the bustling Mealamu has played 38 tests, where his running game has been an impressive addition to his accurate lineout throwing and scrummaging. He and Mitchell will share some reflections tonight on their careers which converged and have now separated.
"It is my first time in Perth, first time here for most people in our side," Mealamu said.
"There has not been much in the papers about the game, this is real AFL country, but all we want to do is win, then work out whether we have to go east or west after that.
"It will be interesting. Watching the Force, you can see the similar trends to the way he coaches which is quite expansive. It is good to have a little bit of knowledge about the way they will try and play. He knows his onions, he brought a fair bit of coaching experience back from England and I have got a lot of respect for him, he promotes a good style of rugby as well.
"Mitch was very detailed, he was able to break skills down and teach you the little skills which help you improve your game," Mealamu said.
After his end-of-year All Black trip to Europe in 2002, Mealamu never thought he would retain his job.
However a rollicking 2003 season with the Blues when they won the Super 12 title took Mealamu past some of the reconditioned players to the last World Cup in Australia. This year the hooker has seen the other side of the deal.
"It is hard watching the boys play but we are trying to do what is best for New Zealand rugby. I know it has been tough on the Blues but they are doing very well or they did very well while we were away and those players got some more experience."
Mealamu hoped the return of the All Blacks had not contributed to the Blues' post-Easter slump.
"It has been a tough run in the last few away games and I hope there is no coincidence there. Our season hinges on this game and we have to play like this is our last game and we can go from there if we win.
"The hardest part for me is getting some match fitness and just fitting back into the team without upsetting their concentration."
Heads were not down in the side, they still believed in their ideas and strategies. Mistakes had hurt the side heavily, the South Africans had challenged their skills with their outside in rush defence and everyone wanted to knock off the leading sides.
"All those things play a little bit on the mind but we just have to go out there and play."
