I've had my doubts about the gormless Donald since day dot - even in ‘The Chiefs’ he doesn't inspire me with confidence. He has a nice turn of pace, but lacks judgement, can't read a game very well, buckles under pressure and is an erratic goal kicker. I would sooner see Weepu or Toeava at 10, which is not to say they are international playmakers either, but Donald is simply woeful.

The All Blacks have performed admirably this year, but the fact is they are hanging on by their fingertips - thanks to their superstars in McCaw and Carter and a handful of now hardcore, battle-hardened veterans in Soaialo, Williams, Hore, Woodcock, Thorn and Joe Rok. What happens if Carter or McCaw is injured in the first 10 minutes against Wales and England? The gulf in class with their understudies is immense. And surely this will be Thorn's swansong year? What a lifesaver he was against Muster.

The drain of players to the north means coaches are fast-tracking players to international rugby on the barest sniff of a promise. After this year's experiences with the likes of Thomson and Donald, you would have to think the ranks of one-year All Blacks will expand greatly.

I know there are plenty of reasons for this talent drain (most of it to do with filthy lucre), but it seems such a shame that players of the ability of Nick Evans, Luke McAlister and Carl Hayman are going north prematurely in their international careers. Against that background, there must be a case for the NZRU using some of its modest war-chest to buy back some talent in 2009, because we are scraping the barrel here.

Of course, one shouldn't be entirely negative. One of the most heartening things this year has been the maturation of players whom the All Black coaches have persisted with - namely Nonu and Toeava. And there are a couple of new forwards who really do look like long-term All Blacks in the making - Reid and Boric in particular. We also have the promise of a couple of quality players returning from injury in 2009, in Leonard and Brett.

Even so, all this could be in vain if the NZRU can't hold the coaching panel together, with reports suggesting the northern hemisphere clubs have got their hooks into Hansen and Smith. It would be a tragedy if after all the bitter politicking over the coaching panel in the wake of the 2007 World Cup debacle and the reappointment of the Henry cartel, that group only stayed together a year. (Having said that, the poaching reports may just be negotiating ploys by Hansen and Smith).

For now, though, New Zealand's international rugby brand is starting to look like one of those Hollywood wild west sets. Behind the realistic saloon fronts blow a lot of tumbleweeds. And one of them has Stephen Donald’s name on it.