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Piri Weepu - Source: Photosport -
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Piri Weepu made an emphatic statement in the All Blacks' comprehensive 30-14 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park last night.
After staring from the bench in the first two outings of 2011, the Blues-bound number nine greeted his new home patch with a dominant display against arguably the best halfback in the world, Will Genia.
Weepu outshone his younger and highly touted rival in his 55 minutes on the field in every facet of the game and all but cemented the number one halfback spot for the Rugby World Cup.
His decisive bursts down the blindside, which led to the first and second tries to Ma'a Nonu and Keven Mealamu, showed the 27-year-old - when fit - still has the pace to keep opposition fringes on their toes.
In fact it was as if Weepu had done a Genia and the Reds man was more than impressed.
"He is very, very classy player and he is in my opinion the best halfback they have in their group," Genia said.
"He does the simple things well and he takes space and opportunities when he sees them and I think he had a great game tonight".
Weepu, conversely, rates Genia and says he was flattered to have received such high praise from a player he thinks is the form halfback in the world.
"I'm pretty humbled that he has said that, but obviously you know I rate Will and his efforts with the Reds for the whole Super 15 season helped them to the title", Weepu said.
"I guess for myself I'm just happy to be out there and very humbled that he has said those words."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry now has a dilemma. There is no question that when Weepu is on the field the All Blacks are more fluent, but his fitness levels are still not up to speed to stay on the field for more than an hour.
"He started well, didn't he, but he ran out of a bit of petrol which he'll get better as time goes on," Henry said.
"But he is obviously a quality player and he created early but he just needs to create for longer."
The modern halfback though remains a two man position. They along with the loose forwards cover the most miles and consequently that means Weepu will always share the role with either Jimmy Cowan or Andy Ellis.
But that doesn't mean Weepu doesn't want to play the full 80 minutes.
"I guess I'm slowly getting there [towards full fitness]," Weepu said.
"I suppose I'm going to be honest with you and say that I probably couldn't last the full 80 minutes at this stage.
"But I'm ticking the right boxes at this stage and I'm heading in the right direction and if I keep on chipping away at everything I have been doing by the World Cup I'll probably be able to play 80 minutes."
Tactically, such a scenario remains unlikely but a fitter Weepu is good news for the All Blacks as he close in on the being not only the best New Zealand number nine but also possibly the entire world's.
Just ask Will Genia.
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