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Mils Muliaina - Source: Photosport -
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Mils Muliaina will become the 64th All Black Test captain when he leads New Zealand against France in Dunedin on Saturday night, and apparently he didn't have a choice, reports tvnz.co.nz's Chris Matthews.
It could have quite possibly been the best and worst day of Muliaina's life. After leading his Chiefs into a monumental brick wall in the Super 14 final , his team going down in record fashion to the Bulls, he received a phone call soon after from All Blacks coach Graham Henry.
If anything was going to lessen the blow, just ever-so slightly, this was probably it but like all thing great things in life, Muliaina had little option, his destiny was thrust upon him.
"He didn't really ask," Muliaina recalls when Henry told him he was going to be the All Blacks captain for the upcoming June Tests against France and Italy.
"I didn't really have a choice I think but yeah there was a big pause and obviously my family is very proud. I rung my mother and she is absolutely proud."
But there was little to indicate that Muiliana would become an All Blacks captain when the 19-year-old inconspicuously hit the provincial scene on the wing for Auckland in 1999.
Sure he had the credentials to be an All Black but the inkling of an All Blacks captain in waiting would not emerge for many years to come.
As far as a resume goes Muiliana ticks all the right boxes. He began his long journey at Southland Boys High where he proved accomplished enough to be offered a scholarship at the powerhouse of Auckland rugby schools at Kelston Boys High. From there he went on to represent New Zealand Secondary Schools, the world champion New Zealand under-19 side of 1999 and world conquering New Zealand Colts sides of 2000 and 2001.
A Super 14 contract with the Blues in 2001 got him on the national radar where his versatile credentials saw him play on the wing, centre and fullback however it wasn't until the all-conquering 2003 Auckland based franchise won the title that the promising Samoan-born utility was elevated into the All Blacks 2003 World Cup squad.
His consistency and poise at international level has seen the 68-Test All Black a permanent fixture ever since however, it hasn't always been a smooth journey.
The most serious transgression was in 2002, when Auckland suspended him without pay for two weeks after he urinated on the floor of a bar. He also received facial injuries in a bar scuffle.
But in retrospect, the most defining moment in his path to All Blacks captaincy was his decision to leave the Blues and the Auckland Rugby Union (ARU) at the end of 2005.
In a blaze of controversy his then girlfriend, and now wife Haley Armstrong - former ARU Event's Manager, was under fraud investigation for allegedly stealing money from the union.
The ARU board later withdrew its complaint in a show of support for Muliaina, after the missing money was repaid, but the situation prompted the then 25-year-old to start afresh the following season at Waikato and the Chiefs.
There is little doubt his maturity and leadership credentials grew at the Chiefs. He had joined a fledging Super 14 side, that in 2006, only had two regular All Blacks in Byron Kelleher and Sitiveni Sivivatu and as the team's traditional leaders Jono Gibbes and Marty Holah moved on to other pastures, the All Blacks fullback became and obvious choice as a leader.
In fact when Waikato stalwart Gibbes pulled the plug on his injury plagued career in 2008 Muliaina, now recognised as a senior All Black, was the natural selection to take over the reigns in 2009.
Around the same time, at the beginning of the All Blacks successful 2008 Grand Slam tour, Muliaina and Armstrong became parents for the first time to Max who had to have an operation upon birth to fix a hole in his heart.
Naturally this moment in his life was influential in the 28-year-old's growing maturity and this new found perspective was best illustrated in his commanding captain's speech after his Chiefs were whipped 63-19 in the Super 14 final in Pretoria.
Although we will never know, the grace and empathy he demonstrated in losing quite possibly could have cemented his elevation to All Blacks captaincy.
Indeed coach Henry this week paid tribute to his new skipper's people skills when speaking to media.
"I think he relates well to the players, he relates well to you people [the media] and therefore he relates well to the fans," Henry said.
Just as importantly, it is safe to say that Muliaina is now recognised as the top fullback in world rugby. No other number 15 comes close.
For this reason he was targeted by the NZRU last year as a priority signing - joining the likes of Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Daniel Carter, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu in a party that was dubbed the core leadership group.
These six players, with 367 Tests combined, are perceived as the All Blacks' key for World Cup success in 2011. Muliaina is the only outside back in this select group and will become only the second All Black in history to lead the side from fullback on Saturday.
Aside from Tana Umaga, the last time an All Black captain was a back was in 1987, when halfback David Kirk led New Zealand to their first and only William Web Ellis trophy.
A telling omen perhaps, but not in Muliaina's eyes, he believes he's a merely a caretaker.
"Although it's temporary with Richie being away, I never in my wildest dreams would have ever dreamt of being becoming an All Black captain," he said.
But now the non-existent dream has become a reality and All Blacks captain number 64 is locked and loaded for yet another chapter in a remarkable career.
