By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Sydney, Sept 9 NZPA - Two All Blacks still getting to grips with fatherhood have embraced test rugby's equivalent of babysitting duties here on Saturday night.

Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu front a support network for 21-year-old first five-eighth Aaron Cruden as he approaches his sixth test appearance and his first in the starting 15 against the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium.

They are positioned either side of him at halfback and second five-eighth and as such have a significant influence in nursing Cruden through what could be a difficult assignment in place of the injured Dan Carter.

Conrad Smith, another Hurricanes teammate at centre, will also act as a guidance counsellor while skipper and flanker Richie McCaw will have Cruden's back defensively, if required.

Of the three rookies entrusted with a start in the Tri-Nations finale and third Bledisloe Cup international of the season, Cruden is obviously under the most intense scrutiny.

Blindside flanker Victor Vito has McCaw and Kieran Read to lean on at the breakdown while Israel Dagg appears to have mastered his transition from the reserves bench to the wing in two tests against South Africa.

Cruden, though, was still seeking assurance.

"He was a bit shy at the start of the week and not too sure about some of the calls," Weepu said when appraising Cruden's early training sessions.

"But me and Ma'a, the coaches and the senior players got around him. Hopefully that's calmed his nerves.

"We want to make everything as easy as possible for him."

Weepu, whose combination with Cruden at Super 14 level gave him a compelling case to replace Jimmy Cowan for this test, added the young playmaker's learning experience this week was not confined to the gameplan.

"He's realising how big it is to be involved with this team," the 43-cap veteran said.

"It's more than putting on the jersey, there's off the field as well -- the analysis on individual players in the opposition, looking where their weaknesses are."

Earlier this week Cruden spoke of the relief he felt at having Nonu outside him and the second five-eighth emphasised his commitment to ensuring Cruden's sixth test was a memorable one.

"He's probably got the best guy to learn off this year with DC (Carter) and there's no hiding from the fact I've been there a few times," Nonu said ahead of his 52nd cap.

"It'll be exciting playing next to him at this level. For myself and Conrad, we've seen his progress over the last year, so it's

about making him feel more confident in himself."

All Blacks head coach Graham Henry is happy Cruden's teammates have not required prompting to lend a hand.

"They've done it automatically," he said.

"They've all stepped up because they respect the young fella starting at 10 and they're trying to assist in every way they can."

Meanwhile, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said he took no comfort from Carter's unavailability and scotched any notion of Cruden, last year's International Rugby Board under-20 player of the year, being considered a weak link.

"Aaron's been there a long period of time now, preparing to play every week.

"It's not as though he's not going to be well-versed. We don't think it'll have a bearing on how the (All Black) team play."

NZPA SYD cb md