MacDonald ready for game of his life

A FEW months ago, Leon MacDonald hardly dared imagine he would be in New Zealand’s World Cup squad, never mind heading into their biggest game of the tournament so far holding down a position he has not played since junior rugby.

The 25-year-old was seriously concussed during the Crusaders’ Super 12 campaign and was still not fully fit when the international season began with a Test against England in June.

He slowly worked his way back into the frame and featured in the All Blacks’ final Tri-Nations game, the Bledisloe Cup victory over Australia in Auckland.

But even after he was included in John Mitchell’s World Cup 30, few could see how he would fit into the regular starting line-up with Mils Muliaina the first-choice full-back.

Then came Tana Umaga’s knee ligament injury, the erratic form of replacement Ma’a Nonu and suddenly Mitchell and his sidekick Robbie Deans, who incidentally is also the Crusaders coach, gave MacDonald his shot in the centres.

He was in stunning form against the Tongans and having also been given the kicking duties, following Carlos Spencer and Daniel Carter so far this tournament, landed 12 from 12.

“I don’t think anybody in the team has been guaranteed a spot for later on,” he said.

“The way I gather it, every game you play you are basically on trial for the next one. You are playing for your life every week, that’s the way each player approaches every Test match.

“That’s the way I will definitely be approaching it this weekend and really hoping for a good performance to be considered for the next games.

“We have a lot of talent in our team and a lot of depth and if you are not up to scratch, there are many good players waiting there.”

Looming large on the horizon is the strengthening form of Umaga, who seems increasingly certain to be available for quarter-final selection after rupturing his posterior cruciate ligament in the opening win over Italy.

“We’re very optimistic about him being available for selection next week,” said team manager Tony Thorpe.

Other possibilities for the outside centre role include Muliaina and even the versatile Aaron Mauger, who will play alongside MacDonald in the 12 shirt against Wales on Sunday.

The pair are provincial team-mates and know each other from old, in the days when MacDonald played in the centres far more regularly than he does now.

MacDonald is the only member of the World Cup squad who will not be playing Super 12 or All Blacks rugby next year.

He is off to Japan on a two-year stint with Yamaha.

“We’ll miss him. He’s extremely highly rated in Canterbury and we think he’s probably under-rated everywhere else,” said his captain Reuben Thorne.