Rugby: Weepu coy on future after return to starting side

Piri Weepu will replace Tyson Keats at halfback for the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

Piri Weepu returned to the Hurricanes' starting lineup yesterday but did little to dampen speculation tomorrow this could be his Super 14 farewell to Wellington.

The 35-test All Blacks halfback usurped Tyson Keats after warming the bench in recent weeks, one of three changes to the starting XV for the seventh-placed Hurricanes' crucial match against the fourth-placed Reds.

In-form flanker Victor Vito was a late scratching after suffering a calf strain at training yesterday, which saw Michael Paterson shifted to No 6 and lock Jeremy Thrush promoted, while prop Jacob Ellison replaced John Schwalger. Concussed All Blacks centre Conrad Smith ran at training but needs to pass psychometric tests before being confirmed.

Emotion will be high at Westpac Stadium, with No 8 Rodney So'oialo playing his 100th match and Tamati Ellison farewelling the home crowd before taking up a Japan contract.

And, after a bumpy season, Weepu admitted his immediate future remained unclear as lucrative overseas offers swirl.

"I don't know. It might be [my last home game], it might not be. I'll be going out there to try and enjoy myself and have a lot of fun with the boys and enjoy the occasion, especially for Rodney," Weepu said.

"Everyone's coming to the stage in their careers where they've got to make big decisions. A few of the boys have already made that decision so it's just wait and see how it goes, really."

Weepu, 26, played six tests last year, all off the bench, but this season the Blues' Alby Mathewson and the Crusaders' Kahn Fotuali'i moved up the pecking order while Keats was preferred for the Hurricanes.

Weepu recently admitted to an offer from a French club, and said he wanted clarity from the All Blacks selectors about his test hopes.

"We've sat down and had meetings and they've asked me how things have been going. I can't share too much information because you guys might leak it and I don't want it to get leaked just yet.

"They've talked to me about how the game's changed and how attacking players like Will Genia and myself and every other No 9 can threaten the defensive line.

"I guess everyone's got that burning desire to wear the black jersey. That's a big goal but at the moment I've just got to take it week by week."

He said the next fortnight, with the Waratahs looming in Sydney next weekend, was less about proving himself to the All Blacks selectors and more about doing the job for his team who chase four consecutive wins and a playoff spot.

"Most of us, when we're not playing Super 14, we like to play a bit of club rugby and get some game time under our belts. I guess these last couple of weeks have been tough but I'm pretty fresh and raring to go. Hopefully I don't blow out in the first five minutes of the game.

"It's a big occasion this weekend; the buzz is pretty high here at training and the boys are really excited."

Coach Colin Cooper said Keats had done nothing wrong, and Weepu's recall was partly due to his goalkicking prowess to take the heat off pivot Aaron Cruden.

Westpac Stadium, 7.35pm tomorrow

HURRICANES
Cory Jane
Tamati Ellison
Conrad Smith
Ma'a Nonu
Hosea Gear
Aaron Cruden
Piri Weepu
Rodney So'oialo
Karl Lowe
Michael Paterson
Bryn Evans
Jeremy Thrush
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore (c)
Jacob Ellison

QUEENSLAND
Peter Hynes
Rod Davies
Will Chambers
Anthony Faingaa
Digby Ioane
Quade Cooper
Will Genia (c)
Leroy Houston
Andrew Shaw
S Higginbotham
Van Humphries
Radike Samo
Greg Holmes
Saia Faingaa
Ben Daley

Hurricanes: Dane Coles, John Schwalger, Nick Crosswell, Scott Waldrom, Tyson Keats, Jason Kawau/Willie Ripia, David Smith.

Queensland: Sean Hardman, James Slipper, Ezra Taylor, Jake Schatz, Lei Tomiki, Ben Lucas, Brando Vaaulu.

- NZPA