Wynn Gray: Murky Questions - but few answers

Kia Ora. Sorry for not using that greeting before and, while we're on that theme, how about an apology from the All Blacks for their rest and rotation policy during the last World Cup campaign?

Murky question, the old race and rugby business. But there has been an apology to Maori affected by their exclusion from New Zealand teams because of South Africa's apartheid regime. Happenstance, politically motivated, good timing, carefully calculated in this centenary year for Maori rugby?

It does not matter. The apologies have been delivered from both New Zealand and South Africa for the non-selection of Maori on tours to the republic.

Curiously there have been players chosen for the Maori side who did not qualify. Lock Daryl Williams was a classic case - a good athlete of Fijian and Samoan connections who was picked for the team about 20 years ago until his mother revealed his bloodlines did not allow his inclusion.

Long-time All Black centre Frank Bunce played for Auckland Maori when his ancestry connected him to Niue and Samoa. There were also doubts expressed by staunch proponent Billy Bush about the racial qualifications of Christian Cullen, Tasesa Lavea and a number of others chosen in New Zealand Maori squads.

There was apparently no doubt, though, about the authenticity of the fair-skinned duo Lee Stensness and Tony Brown.

But there are still dramas.

A journalist colleague rang the NZRU the other day to inquire about the Maori squad and those who would be eligible for selection in their three-match programme next month.

You would think the NZRU would hold a register of those qualified for the Maori for the selectors to consider for that programme against Ireland and England next month. The query was related to Rene Ranger, the outside back from the Blues who has Cook Islands ancestry. It should have been easy enough to locate a list and give a response. The questioner is still waiting.

Just as we all are for some sort of decision about the officials who will be used during this year's Super 14 playoffs.

During round-robin matches, the tournament's organisers picked referees based on ability and perceived competence rather than a desire for national neutrality. It made economic and scheduling sense.

That policy has hit a few speedhumps, such as Marius Jonker's control of the Bulls game last week against the Crusaders. He made some decisions which favoured the Bulls in the crucial late minutes, but the biggest decision came from a linesman.

If Sanzar thinks we should revert to neutral referees for every match, shouldn't that apply to linesmen and television match officials too?

Imagine the cost, with no guarantee they would be any better than local touchies. And how will it all pan out next year, when the Super 15 is played in domestic pools before it splits into overseas games and extended playoffs?

Super 14 The Final Playoff Equation

Buckle up for Friday as the Super 14 heads for sudden death on both sides of the Tasman.

New Zealand teams have been involved in the playoffs in each of the past eight years but with one round of qualifying left, all five teams sit outside that leading group.

However, in a quirk of scheduling, the Crusaders host the fourth-placed Brumbies before the third-placed Waratahs are challenged at home by the Hurricanes. The winners of both games should make the semifinals.

But there are all sorts of permutations to consider before the qualifiers for the final season of Super 14 are confirmed once the Stormers host the Bulls in the last match in Cape Town.

One detail is certain. The Bulls have qualified top again after seeing off the Crusaders in a furious final few minutes of a game of high quality and controversy in Pretoria.

Strangely, the second-placed Stormers could still miss the playoffs. They lost yesterday to the Sharks and a final round loss to the chart-topping Bulls could see them tipped out of the last few weeks of the competition.

There is also an outside chance the Reds could slip into the finals action.

They would need a bonus points victory against the Highlanders and a raft of other results to go their way.

But the red-hot inquiries will revolve around the opening two matches this week.

The Crusaders are first on to centre stage. They return from three overseas defeats to a visit from the Brumbies who reclaimed senior flanker George Smith and signs of their pedigree in beating the Highlanders.

The Crusaders were within a blast from Marius Jonker's whistle of halting the Bulls' long run of successes at Loftus Versfeld and must now win and rely on other results to continue their qualifying run which began in 2002.

Five eighths Daniel Carter began to show more of his thoroughbred talent as his pack delivered greater sting to their work. But they have to travel home from the republic, regroup and face a Brumbies side which may yet be boosted by the inclusion of dangerous centre Stirling Mortlock.

It would be best if the referees' panel did not appoint Steve Walsh to control this game or the next after he battled through his comeback at Waikato Stadium.

The Hurricanes travel to meet the Waratahs in Sydney in the second match on Friday.

The Canes have won their last four games since drawing with the Crusaders, as they vie for their third successive semifinal in coach Colin Cooper's final season.

That target has become more attainable after a weekend body count.

The Canes should get flanker Victor Vito and centre Conrad Smith back from the medicos' tent, while the Waratahs are surveying some serious damage. They beat the Chiefs but topped the casualty list.

Loosehead prop Ben Robinson has reinjured his arm after having some time out of the game with a cracked bone in that limb, and his frontrow sidekick Tatafu Polata-Nau has suffered some shoulder damage.

The Waratahs' chances of winning on Friday and qualifying for the playoffs will drop significantly if their senior frontrowers cannot front against the Hurricanes' international front row.