Luke a special case who deserves special treatment

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and hats off to the New Zealand Rugby Union for doing what they've had to do to get Luke McAlister back where he's needed.
Luke back in black

That, in case you hasn't noticed, is back here in New Zealand where, not to put too fine a point on it, he's desperately needed by the All Blacks.

Right about now, two seasons out from World Cup year, New Zealand rugby is about as thin as a supermodel at first and second five-eighths, which just happens to be two positions McAlister covers more than adequately.

With Daniel Carter's recent Achilles tendon injury highlighting the lack of quality cover there, and the All Blacks essentially forced to operate without a specialist backup for Ma'a Nonu at second five throughout 2008, the return of McAlister fills a two-pronged need.

Suddenly Graham Henry has another legitimate option at No 10 behind Carter, and he also has someone on hand to keep the enigmatic Nonu honest. More than that, McAlister provides a different style of game at No 12 that might sometimes be preferable to Nonu's power approach.

A smart organisation covers its deficiencies. A smart rugby team ensures it has depth in every position. By luring McAlister back after two seasons in English rugby, the NZRU has plugged some serious holes in the All Blacks squad.

Sure, cool hand Luke will still have to prove himself worthy of selection, and it should also be noted he will need some sort of special dispensation from the board to allow him to don the black jersey any earlier than the end-of-year tour.

Neither should be a problem.

McAlister, at 25, is not one of those past-his-best All Blacks who headed north to pick up his pension. He's a gifted young footballer still in his prime, and one who clearly still has some major ambitions in the international game.

And surely the NZRU board, having seen its executives seal the deal to get a rare win on the player drain front, will have no problem rubber-stamping a "McAlister Rule" which will enable him to be fast-tracked to international duty.

He is a special case, as a player who went north early in his career to achieve some personal goals, and must be treated as such as a valuable resource returning to New Zealand.

Credit where it's due to Steve Tew and co at HQ.

They don't always get it right, and they are fighting a massive battle holding on to talent in the face of the greater riches on offer up north.

But here's a situation where they've recognised a real need in the All Blacks, and they've done what they've had to in order to make our national team a stronger unit.

McAlister clearly wanted to come home for "family" reasons, a situation he confirmed in his comments from Manchester. But be sure of one thing: he would not have done so if the NZRU hadn't come to the party to play their part.

The deal, apparently, was only signed off over the last 24 hours, and had clearly been fuelled by Graham Henry's stated concern that there was a serious lack of depth at 10 and 12. The gaffer knew a potential train-wreck when he saw one.

Suddenly the situation is not so dire. Stephen Donald can be given more time to develop his game, to learn his trade, and to persuade his doubters that he does have the ability to step up at test level as a legitimate alternative to Carter.

Likewise, Stephen Brett can have more time to persuade his Super 14 coaches that he deserves a crack at No 10, and in the meantime Colin Slade can continue his learning process unencumbered by speculation of an All Black callup that would be way ahead of its time.

And at 12, McAlister's best position, there is now an alternative to Nonu which is something that didn't really exist in 2008.

Carter was used there once or twice, and Richard Kahui was being groomed as a makeshift fill-in should he be needed. Young Cantab Tim Bateman has also emerged on the radar, but again there's a suspicion that he needs more time to develop. He will now have it.

Bringing back McAlister is no panacea to all that is wrong in New Zealand rugby. The player drain has taken its toll, and our depth has been badly eroded. That is clear to anyone who opens his eyes and watches our domestic game at the moment.

But this is one significant step in the right direction.

For that the NZRU can only be commended. And is that a smile I see on Graham Henry's dial?

- © Fairfax NZ News