Over-rated Piri Weepu on the outer - his international career must be waning...

A real champion player, skipper, Richie McCaw, always keeps himself super-fit even when injured.

OPINION: This was not the statement Piri Weepu desperately desired.
The 29-year-old severely dented his future test prospects in Dunedin last night.
He will be looking over his shoulder and is officially fighting for his 62-test All Blacks career.
Aaron Smith can breathe easy; his exploits in the capital - the late night on the large which saw him dumped to the bench - won't have cost him the starting halfback spot. That much is certain.
He, and New Zealand's young brigade, are the future.
Steve Hansen delivered a clear message Weepu failed to deliver the goods by hooking him after an average first 40 minutes, where his forwards struggled to cope with South Africa's physicality.
Weepu won't get over that confidence hit in a hurry. He won't want to view last night's tape anytime soon, either.

After spending all six tests this year largely riding the pine, Weepu was given his first start since the World Cup final. How times have changed.
This was his chance to impose his style; to prove his 96kg frame could get around the park and hack the pace Hansen is attempting to imprint on the international game.
Instead of making an impact, Weepu confirmed suspicions his star pedigree was dwindling. Right from kickoff, he appeared one-second behind the play. Ans so he continued until replaced by the highly talented Smith

It is most certainly the end of Piri Weepu's international career. He was over-rated anyway, but his versatility kept him in the picture - he can play No 10 in an emergency and is a handy goalkicker when in form. This year his total lack of professionalism in presenting himself to the Blues well overweight and totally unfit, went down like a lead balloon. Why the inform Crusaders halfback, and former All Black, Andy Ellis, was totally rejected, is a mystery. Has performed well for the Crusaders and continues with Canterbury in the ITM Cup. Ellis is a Pakeha and all other contenders are Maori. If he performed admirably he might be an embarrassment for those supporters of the injured TJ Perenara and Kerr-Barlow.Weepu is the current haka leader and Ellis' skills are in horticulture anyway.