Now Dan must take the lead

The time is now for Dan Carter. The All Blacks first-five had a disappointing World Cup and took his time to find his form in the Super 14. But that's all history now and today, when he assembles with the All Blacks in Wellington, it should mark the beginning of a new phase in his international career.

Irrespective of whether he goes on a sabbatical after the Grand Slam tour or leaves New Zealand to sign a longer term deal in Europe, the fact remains the time is right for him to step up as a leader for the All Blacks.

In the past he has tended to be a bit too quiet on the field.

But it didn't matter because he had members of the team's leadership group halfback Byron Kelleher and No 12 Aaron Mauger on either side of him.

Both those players are gone now and it is more likely he will have Brendon Leonard and, heaven forbid, Ma'a Nonu inside and outside him respectively.

Clearly, Carter needs to step up and take a leadership role with the inside backs and be the decision-maker and give Richie McCaw the advice he needs on how each test is going.

It is vital the backs are heard by the decision-maker in the team with a view to making small variations in the game plan because of what the opposition are doing.

Most of McCaw's lieutenants throughout the team in recent years are no longer there and that makes it even more important that Carter steps up.

Without knowing him well, he seems to be a quiet sort of unassuming person.

In that sense he is similar to Graeme Bachop who played for the All Blacks when I was coach.

But Graeme would give very informed and intelligent opinion to the leaders in the team and that is exactly what Carter needs to do.

He's played 44 tests and at two World Cups. He has the nous to lead the All Blacks and they need to see him do it, now more than ever.

Of course, one player who won't be in Wellington today is Nick Evans and I must say, it is disappointing he was left out of the All Blacks' training squad.

This 2008 All Blacks season has to only be about this All Blacks season. In other words there is no point picking a team now with one eye on the 2011 World Cup.

After the humiliation of the World Cup the All Blacks need to restore their mana by winning against all-comers this winter. And the best way to do that is by picking your best players.Clearly, Evans has paid the price for signing a contract with an English club. And that's not right. He is one of the two best first-fives in the country and he should have been selected in the All Blacks team.

I am still concerned about the All Blacks' second-five position a dilemma that Evans could have helped solve.

There is lot of talk around that Nonu will be given the No 12 jersey now that Stephen Brett was benched for a second week by Robbie Deans.

Nonu has played some spectacular rugby this year but when he has been up against good teams, not much has come from him.

Certainly that was the case in the semifinal last week against the Crusaders where he was a non-event. He was contained quite easily by Tim Bateman.

I have serious doubts he will ever be a good international player. Defences are bigger, stronger and more effective at test level.

If we wanted to put the best backline on the field, Carter would be the best No 12 in the country. He certainly excelled there when he first came into test rugby.

If I was coaching I'd have Nick Evans at No 10 and Carter at No 12. But I accept that is not a view the selectors would be taking.

Another player who will be missing this winter is, of course, Jerry Collins.

He has been a warhorse for the All Blacks in recent years and has given his all to the All Blacks cause.

So when he announced his retirement from test rugby I thought it was a very mean-spirited attitude

of the All Blacks coach to say he wouldn't have made the team anyway.

You just don't do that to players who have played for you for four years.

One absentee who can't have any complaints is Isaia Toeava.

Wayne Smith's "special project" wasn't ready for test football when he was first selected in 2005. Last year, though, he did deserve his All Blacks jersey after an outstanding Super 14.

But he has paid the price this time round for a poor Super 14 in a poorly-coached Blues backline. The franchise's backs have been very badly organised this year and Toeava just hasn't had the opportunity to perform.

Of the four bolters in last week's All Blacks training squad, I think Paul Williams and Rudi Wulf could step up to test level if asked against Ireland and England.

I am a strong supporter of Williams and I'm delighted he has been able to get back to the sort of form he showed when I coached him at the Highlanders in 2003.

And Wulf is a player who I have really rated in the past. But he is another one who has suffered in the Blues backline.

But he is a class player and I'd say if he is picked in the All Blacks today he is deserving of his position especially given that our wing stocks are not as great as they used to be.

I not sure if either Adam Thomson and Anthony Boric are ready though.

Thomson is clearly a talented player. He just needs to learn that a blindside flanker has 80 minutes of work to do and not 10 minutes out in the backline playing rugby with the backs.

There is a lot of hard work that needs to be done upfront before he can start looking for those plums.

Boric is a player who has come on year after year. I think it was a good move to get him into the training squad and have a close look at him but it may just be a look at this stage.

I'm suprised Jason Eaton wasn't involved in the training group Boric would have kept him out.

It's true that the lock's form isn't what it was before his injury last year but the good news for him is that time is on his side and he'd be a good bet for the Grand Slam tour at the end of the year.

I just wonder though if the All Blacks selectors shouldn't have backed themselves to get his form back to where it should be in time for the Tri-nations.

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