Publications
Partners
Auckland - Scrumhalf Piri Weepu has been New Zealand's go-to guy at the Rugby World Cup.
When star flyhalf Dan Carter was injured and ruled out of the tournament, the All Blacks coaches went to Weepu first. They stopped short of asking him to play at flyhalf but loaded on his shoulders most of the responsibilities of that difficult role.
They handed him the goalkicking duties, they asked him to take dropouts and restarts and they called on him to perform most of New Zealand's tactical kicking to shield young flyhalves Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden.
Weepu leads the All Blacks' haka then takes the kick-off that starts the game. He is now the organiser of the New Zealand backline, the second-most powerful figure in the All Blacks line-up after captain Richie McCaw.
When the All Blacks lost Slade to injury after only 33 minutes of last weekend's hard-fought quarter-final against Argentina, Weepu calmly adopted the lion's share of the flyhalf's responsibilities and helped to steer New Zealand to a 33-10 win.
He came off the field after that match to find his father had been trying to contact him with the news that his grandfather had died.
Weepu flew home to Wainuiomata, a small town near Wellington, to attend his grandfather's tangi, or funeral, then returned to the All Blacks' camp to resume his preparation for Sunday's semi-final against Australia.
Weepu's composure, his adaptability, his resilience in even his personal courage over the past week has seen him adopted on social networking sites as New Zealand's 'Mr Fixit'.
Photographs have circulated showing him apparently dealing with an oil spill threatening New Zealand's northern coastline and running second in a poll for New Zealand's preferred Prime Minister.
Weepu, quietly spoken and uncomfortable in the limelight, said he wasn't paying attention to the social media buzz.
"I try to stay away from it," he said. "I heard it's a bit (frantic) at the moment.
"I guess I just managed to do what was required (against Argentina) and I guess it kinda helped that I kicked the majority of my penalties. I guess that's what helped me get through that game on Sunday.
"I wouldn't say I'm Mr Fixit."
Weepu played down suggestions that the injury-hit All Blacks were depending on him more than ever before.
"I wouldn't say depending on me," he said. "We've got guys in the team who probably are more important. I guess most of the attention put on me will mean those guys can express themselves more and be more of a threat.
"I've always been a part of (the All Blacks' leadership group), I guess, just not as much as Daniel or Richie.
"I've just done what I've had to and controlled what I've had to over the years. So I guess to step up and take a key leading role I've done pretty well and hopefully I can continue."
Weepu said receiving the news of his grandfather's death immediately after Sunday's quarter-final victory had been "pretty tough". Of Maori and Niuean descent, Weepu comes from a close-knit family and was especially close to his grandfather.
"It was pretty tough, especially coming off the field on Sunday and seeing that my father was trying to get hold of me to pretty much break the news," he said. "That was pretty tough but I'm back in camp now and I've got support from the boys to get through this week and hopefully put another good effort in on Sunday.
"I don't know if (grandfather) will be on my mind, he'll definitely be watching down on me. I just went home on Tuesday morning and I was told by pretty much by all my family that he was very proud of me and he'll be looking down on me on Sunday."
