Will Mike Delaney become another forgotten man?

The Bay of Plenty and Chiefs first five eighth has missed out on selection for the All Blacks end of year tour.

And perhaps the most damning part was that he was not even mentioned in the ‘also-rans’. Coach Graham Henry specifically mentioned Aaron Cruden and Colin Slade when he talked about the fly half position and those who were close to selection.

In theory this means that at the moment, Delanely is considered the 5th best at the number 10 position.

Anything can happen between now and the World Cup in 11 months. Injury or form can change the horizon completely but players need an opportunity to impress and Delaney may be running out of chances.

Stephen Donald finished the 2009 Super 14 competition very much as second fiddle to the Bay of Plenty man but he has played well for Waikato this season and Delaney is still returning to form after a shoulder operation.

Donald’s All Black recall is likely to result in Delaney being demoted int eh Chiefs to a backup. He has played fullback before when Donald was at fly half but the exciting Tim Nanae-Williams played there last year and did very well. Mils Muliana is the first choice in the 15 jersey and so unless there is an injury, Delaney’s playing time could be severely restricted.

This could prompt him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Many unwanted players never looked back

When John Mitchell plucked Steve Devine from relative obscurity for his 2002 All Blacks squad, the plucky Australian half back was not even in the Blues squad for the next season.

Mark ‘Sharky’ Robinson was in the All Blacks the previous year but did not feature in Mitchell’s plans. Robinson was in the Blues squad for 2003 but an embarrassing about-turn took place and he was dropped for Devine. Robinson went on to play 6 years in the English Premiership for Northampton and Wasps.

Bay of Plenty’s last prodigious first five, Glen Jackson, went on to an illustrious career with Saracens in the English Premiership (before returning to become a referee).

Delaney will have the same prospects in the Northern Hemisphere as his predecessor.

Ex-Highlanders team mate Daniel Bowden is doing very well with pace-setters London Irish in the Premiership right now.

Good players do not look back when presented with these types of opportunities – unless they are lured back by promises of World Cup success but that hasn’t worked out for Luke McAllister .

Delaney’s team mate Tanerau Latimer must be wondering about his future in New Zealand rugby also, after being overlooked again for All Black selection.

Daniel Braid is considered the number 2 specialist open side flanker and third place usually goes to a utility (Liam Messam on this occasion, Adam Thompson before him) and so Latimer is very much on the outer.