Mils Muliaina finally doubt-free again

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Mils Muliaina is finally doubt-free - in mind and body - as he heads into the Tri-Nations clash with Australia.

The All Blacks fullback has rebounded from an injury-plagued season to be a star of the last three tests, particularly the dual Tri-Nations wins over the Springboks where his attacking game was outstanding.

Having eased his worries with a typically rock solid effort against Wales, he eradicated any second-thoughts by blitzing the Boks.

Now the rejuvenated No 15 is out to continue his hot form against the Wallabies tomorrow night in Sydney where the Bledisloe Cup is also factored into the championship equation.

"I think I've well and truly buried some of those doubts now. And I had a lot of injury doubts because I'd only played a handful of game this year really," he said of his battles with a broken thumb during the Super 14 and strained calf in the All Blacks preseason.

"Now I suppose you take a bit of confidence coming away from the South African games and coming over here. You always have to be at your best against the Australians because they are tactically very sound.

"Personally it has been great to get those games under my belt and I'm really looking forward now ... the body is feeling great and the confidence levels are good too. I'm just feeling good all round."

His worries had only been increased by the impressive debut of Israel Dagg at fullback who made the most of Muliaina's absence to show he ahs the game for this level.

But the 30-year-old Muliaina's response has been so impressive the selectors are now looking at ways to utilise both players, adding wing skills to Dagg's repertoire to keep him in the mix.

Muliaina made good use of his down time with his broken thumb, an injury that still allowed him to work on his speed and fitness.

 "And also my flexibility - that was a big thing for me as well, being able to loosen up a bit more. So it enabled me to focus on other parts of my body that I had thought about for a long time."

He tweaked the calf in fitness testing on his return and tried to battle through but only worsened things.

But he battled back and now he feels fitter - and faster - than ever.

"Yeah, perhaps it's the best I've ever felt. The game has got faster so you have to start thinking about that.

Body wise I'm feeling a whole lot better than I have for the last two or three years.

"I'm injury free and I've being able to really work on my speed for the last three weeks. It's something I've never been bale to do fro the previous years because I've always had a wee niggle. Hopefully it has given me a bit of extra speed."

It has certainly showed against the Springboks. Muliaina's turbo-charged 50m dash to the tryline in Wellington belied his years. He's also made regular busts up the middle of the paddock, thrilling to the All Blacks' desire to play a counter-attacking game.

He's in rare form. Even coach Graham Henry labelled Muliaina's Auckland performance against the Boks as arguably his best performance in an All Blacks career that stretches back to 2003 and now numbers 85 tests.

In an increasingly competitive All Blacks environment the veteran knows he can't rest on his laurels. But having endured the pain of World Cup exits in the 2003 and 2007 he would love nothing more than to be able to set the record straight at home next year.

So it's just a matter of carrying on with the form he has shown over the past month.

He's adamant that despite the shifty playing surface of tomorrow's venue at Etihad Stadium the All Blacks will be able to maintain the ball-in-hand approach.

And right now, nobody is doing that better than Muliaina.

- © Fairfax NZ News