Steve Hansen's first big decision as the All Blacks coach is to drop Piri Weepu. It doesn't matter if the World Cup scrum-half is now marginally slimmer than Homer Simpson. It doesn't matter if Weepu has met his "targets". All that matters is the fact that Weepu hasn't played any decent rugby this year. That is not good enough for an All Black.

When Stuart Lancaster took over the England job one of the first things he did was kick out Danny Care. He was not being intolerant. Care had been charged with drink-driving and it was not his first incident with alcohol. So Lancaster sent him into exile. Care is now back in the squad, having starred in the Premiership final and improved his attitude.

When Laurie Mains took over the New Zealand job, he dropped Zinzan Brooke early on. It seems unthinkable now, but the No8 was cruising. When he returned to the All Blacks team he played some of the best rugby of his career.

Dropping Weepu should not be seen as "punishment". It should be seen as pragmatism. He is not being sat on the naughty step. He is simply being told: "Your form is appalling. It is partly a result of excess weight, not the first time you have spent too long in the bargain bucket. You have lost your place at the Blues to Alby Mathewson, who is not exactly Will Genia. We know what you can do, but you're not doing it."

Weepu's performance against the Crusaders a couple of weeks ago was atrocious. Early on in the match he was slow getting across the field to a ruck, he was caught in possession and the turnover led to the Crusaders' opening try. On the next possession he chucked a pass across the ground. He missed tackles. A poor kick led to another Crusaders try.

This is not the form remotely worthy of an All Black. What sort of benchmark would Hansen be setting if TJ Perenara cannot get a look-in, but he retains Weepu in his final 30 on Sunday. Weepu was dropped by the Blues after that performance.

Could Hansen really pick Weepu because he came on for 15 minutes against the Highlanders and fed short passes to his forwards. You could even argue that the Blues fatally turned over possession for the final time because Weepu was slow to get to a midfield ruck.

When Hansen picked Weepu in his initial squad he said: "Obviously Piri's got a few questions marks around him with the way he's been playing. We've had a sit-down with him and made it pretty clear what our expectations are of him and he's got to meet those expectations by the end of the last camp otherwise he won't be considered for selection."

That final sentence is smart. Hansen didn't say Weepu had to make the fitness criteria if he wanted to make the squad. He said Weepu had to make them in order to be considered for selection. The word is that Weepu has made his fitness targets, but could Hansen pick him on that basis alone?

If Weepu stays then either Tawera Kerr-Barlow or Aaron Smith (possibly both) drop out of the squad. Kerr-Barlow still has holes in his game. His kicking is not yet up to international standard and the odd pass hits the ground.

But the two games the Chiefs lost this season were when Kerr-Barlow did not start. He played the full 80 minutes against the Bulls last week and was heroic in defence. His organisation behind the defensive ruck and his awareness of when to step up and make the hit were outstanding. He was also smart enough to take the quick throw-in which led to the Chiefs' decisive try. How can Weepu compare to that at the moment?

OF ALL the candidates, Aaron Smith is probably the most complete player. He is the best passer New Zealand have had since Graeme Bachop in the mid-nineties. Bachop had such strong wrists he could flick the ball away from a mid-body position, an ability that held the defence for longer because they did not know if he was going to pass or run.

Smith has some of that same talent. He is also quick, a decent kicker and a nuggety defender. He may not have been strong enough to stop Tony Woodcock from three metres against the Blues, but he was good enough to turn Weepu on to his back over the tryline.

It is a thrilling time for halfbacks in this country. Perenara reminds me of Joost van der Westhuizen. His kicking game has a way to go yet before it is up there with the South African's, but what a runner the kid is. Hansen is right to hold him back a month or two. Perenara was exceptional against the Rabbles, but his errors turned the momentum against the Brumbies the week before.

With so much talent coming through it is not right to pick Weepu solely on past achievement. We know Andy Ellis will start against Ireland. His all-round form has been excellent and you need a guy at international level with the verbal know-how to keep the ref onside. We know that Kerr-Barlow and Smith could make an impact off the bench.

But Weepu needs a reality check. I am a big fan of Weepu at his best and argued how vital he would be to the All Blacks at the World Cup. But right now he is a dumpling that needs to be dumped.