While the All Blacks welcomed the return of skipper Richie McCaw and several other key players from extended injury breaks against the Wallabies, that of Leonard represented a bridge too far against the world champion South Africans.
Worse it represented a flashback to the 2007 World Cup quarterfinal loss to France, when the selectors failed to choose the in-form Chris Jack, Doug Howlett and Andrew Hore at the expense of Keith Robinson, Joe Rokocoko and Anton Oliver.
With McCaw, Hore, Rodney So’oialo, Jerome Kaino, Conrad Smith and Sitiveni Sivivatu returning from long injury breaks to do the business against Australia, the fact remains that only Kaino among them produced his best form.
Introducing the talented but rusty Leonard to such a crucial pivotal role against the Springboks made this rugby’s equivalent to playing Russian roulette.
Cowan was the All Blacks outstanding back against the Wallabies and should have been rewarded with a starting berth against South Africa.
While Piri Weepu also had some good form to recommend him before stupidly contributing to the Springboks decisive second try at Bloemfontein after replacing Leonard, Cowan’s superior pass, variation and up-and-under stamped him as currently the best halfback in the land.
That the selectors should ignore him and throw Leonard to the wolves was even more incomprehensible than their decision to start Hore and Neemia Tialata ahead of Keven Mealamu and Owen Franks.
That Hore should get a start against the best lineout in world rugby after butchering it against Australia defies belief.
In both games the All Blacks scrum only gained dominance after impressive international rookie Franks replaced Tialata to show he’s inherited many of the attributes which made Greg Somerville such a fine all-round prop.
With fellow test newcomer Isaac Ross also making a fine impression and Stephen Donald backing up his improved game against Australia, the Bloemfontein experience wasn’t a total disaster beyond Weepu’s bad blue and some poor selections.
With so many having played so little rugby, the All Blacks were always going to be the underdogs and looked inept in a bumbling error-ridden first half in which their opponents dominated the lineouts and mauls.
However, thanks to a gutsy second half forward effort, Donald’s accurate goalkicking boot and a splendid Conrad Smith try, they reduced a 17-3 leeway to 20-16 before Weepu’s folly in delaying a clearance which eventually bounced off Jason Eaton’s head led to Jacques Fourie’s try.
Hopefully smarter selection and the sea level at Durban will lead to a more cohesive performance this weekend when a win will be crucial to the All Blacks hopes of defending their Tri-Nations title.
Certainly they don’t lack courage. But the wobbly lineout and lack of backline cohesion remains a worry within a team that has missed too much game time.
When match fit, Leonard’s lightning acceleration offers another string to the All Blacks attack. But test matches are not the place to restore confidence after such a long break at the expense of an in-form player like Cowan.
With wings Sivivatu and an improving Rokocoko showing they were prepared to have a go from limited chances, it’s vital they receive the ball with the timing and speed Smith delivers and Nonu needs to perfect.
Having improved so many other aspects of his game, Nonu has come a long way but remains too easily isolated by a rushing midfield defence targeting him.
