"Regularly wasn't available for the All Whites as a player"
He was very available and regularly picked from the time of the Middle East Tour of 1997, all through 1998 including the Nations Cup victory (where he was immense) and up until he was given the chance to trial with Leeds United. He asked if he could miss a couple of Confeds 99 build-up games (versus Singapore and Malaysia) in order to trial, and then rejoin the squad for the build-up to Mexico. Coach Dugdale said no, dumped him from the squad, and he was out for the rest of Dugdale's tenure. He then came back into the mix v Poland when Mick Waitt had the team, leading on to Confeds 03 in France (having overcome a horror run of injuries). He then captained the team during Ricki Herbert's early years before retiring as a player.
So apart from the time he was dumped and then injured, when was he not available? That comment just seems a bit unfair.