Weepu looks set to get the nod

CHRIS HILLOCK/Taranaki Daily News

SET TO STRIKE: Piri Weepu's goalkicking ability should see him start against the Wallabies.

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The goalkicking skills of Piri Weepu should help him regain his starting position in the All Blacks for the Tri-Nations finale in Sydney next week.

Dan Carter's absence though injury means rookie Aaron Cruden will wear the No 10 jersey against the Wallabies on September 11 with uncapped Canterbury youngster Colin Slade confirmed yesterday as the only change to the squad that won in South Africa.

But it's unlikely Cruden will be burdened with the goalkicking responsibilities for his first start in a test that remains a huge assignment despite both the Tri-Nations trophy and the Bledisloe Cup already being banked.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry believes Weepu's goalkicking is approaching world-class levels though he wouldn't be drawn on who would get the job in Sydney.

"We have some alternatives. We could play Piri and he could goalkick ... he's a class goalkicker. Aaron has improved his goalkicking which you saw at the weekend [for Manawatu] and Israel Dagg can kick goals as well," Henry said.

"We haven't picked the 15 or discussed it yet as a selection group."

That process will begin in Auckland on Saturday with Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen looking at their options before the squad flies to Sydney on Sunday.

Weepu has had a battle with Jimmy Cowan for the halfback's starting jersey this season. Weepu has started just two of the eight tests, though he would surely have had a third in Melbourne but for the birth of his first child delaying his travel across the Tasman.

He has had plenty of time off the bench and the coaches are comfortable with either of the senior halfbacks. With Carter's sharpshooting skills, missing it would be a surprise if Weepu wasn't there from the kickoff in Sydney.

Henry said "there won't be much in the way of changes" for this test.

The challenge was to complete a clean sweep of the Tri-Nations and continue their run of 14 consecutive test wins before looking more deeply at alternatives on their end-of-year tour.

The refreshed All Blacks have a clear advantage coming off their break while the Wallabies need to back up after consecutive tests against the Springboks in Pretoria (lost 44-31) and Bloemfontein (this Sunday).

"That is obviously going to have some effect with three test matches in a row," Henry said of Robbie Deans' side.

"But they [Australia] are talking themselves up for this test match in Bloemfontein and they should have won the last one quite frankly.

"They had the opportunities but didn't execute on the opportunities and I can understand why they think they can win in Bloemfontein and they may well do. They will be highly motivated to get the ledger right."

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