Mils Muliaina

Malili Muliaina, who was always known by the nickname, ‘Mils’, was part of a special piece of history at the 2011 World Cup even though he had a limited role at the tournament because of injury. But when he took the field for the pool match against Argentina Muliaina reached his century of test matches for the All Blacks.

Richie McCaw had earlier achieved the feat, of course, but Muliaina at least had the honour of being the first All Black back to reach three figures. Though he had a slightly shorter span in the All Blacks than McCaw, making his debut in 2003, – Muliaina was able to reach the milestone at almost the same time. That was a reflection of his consistency over eight or nine seasons and the fact that because of the quality of his performances he was invariably a first choice.

Over the latter stages of his career Muliaina was mainly at fullback and his steadiness, especially under the high ball, plus his pace and readiness to counter attack, have won him recognition as one of the best the All Blacks have had in the position.

He was not a fullback of the classical old school, in that he could not be termed simply the last line of defence and he was not a huge kicker of the ball or a goal-kicker. But his ability to play equally well at either wing or centre made him ideal for the way the fullback position has evolved in the modern era. He also read a game cleverly, and his knack of being in the right place at the right time brought him 34 test tries.

Though he was nearly 23 when he made his All Black debut and was in his fifth season of first class rugby, Muliaina had a thorough grooming at various national levels. He was a national secondary schools representative, in the national under 19s and in the New Zealand colts in 2000-01. After just one full provincial season, with Auckland in 2000, Muliaina, aged just 20, was in the New Zealand A side, which made a short European tour.

He was another, too, to benefit while he was young from an intensive involvement with sevens. While still only a teenager he played in the national side, and was a regular selection until 2002 when he won a gold medal at the Manchester Commonwealth Games.

Muliaina was one of the many of Samoan birth or parentage who especially in recent years have made a colossal contribution to All Black rugby. In 2009, when he captained the All Blacks in tests against France and Italy, he joined other Samoan Kiwis who have achieved this distinction, following Tana Umaga, Jerry Collins, Keven Mealamu and Rodney So’oialo.

His background slightly differed from most of the Samoans, who in New Zealand have been raised in either Auckland or Wellington. Muliaina grew up in Invercargill in New Zealand’s southernmost city and only moved to Auckland in his final school years to attend Graham Henry’s Kelston Boys’ High.

Between 1999 and 2005 Muliaina played 42 provincial games for Auckland, and up until 2005 played 49 Super 12 games for the Blues. But from 2006 all of his provincial and franchise rugby was with Waikato and the Chiefs. He made 55 appearances for the Chiefs but such was the extent of his All Black commitments he managed only seven Waikato matches.

Muliaina was involved in three World Cup campaigns and it was fitting that he was awarded a gold medal in his swan-song tournament in 2011. But it was a bitter-sweet experience for Muliaina. Injury meant that Israel Dagg and Isaia Toeava played most of the matches at fullback and, even had he been fit, the exuberant and younger Dagg might have been preferred.