Cup players, the All Blacks selectors are watching you
Here’s one for the amateur selectors among you.
Not content with already having more quality players than they can put in a 23 each week, the All Blacks are set to cast their net even wider. Selector Ian Foster said yesterday that a group of Mitre 10 Cup players are being closely monitored, with an eye to inclusion on the All Blacks’ upcoming end-of-year tour.
It begs the questions of who, how many and in which positions?
‘‘There’s a number [of areas the selectors are looking at],’’ Foster said.
‘‘The beauty of this year is – and players will know this – but there’s going to be a number of opportunities. We’ve got a fivegame end-of-year tour [and we’ve yet to decide] how we go about that. But certainly we’re looking hard in the Mitre 10 Cup at a certain list of players and whether they know who they are or not, it’s probably helpful that they don’t.’’
Which leaves the rest of us to speculate on all sorts of parts of the field or individuals that Foster and company could have in mind. Outside backs, loose forwards, halfback, lock, prop, hooker and midfield must all be among the spots where the selectors are eager to see guys stand out.
Tasman outside back Solomon Alaimalo’s ability to play wing and fullback is clearly useful and there’s no doubt he can play. Canterbury’s George Bridge is also adept in those positions, while Taranaki’s Manasa Mataele and Wellington’s Ben Lam are other wings with a bit to offer.
In midfield, Vince Aso, when he can get on the park for Auckland, will be worth a look, while Wellington captain Matt Proctor isn’t the worst player either, particularly on defence.
Gareth Evans, Vaea Fifita; from one to 15 you could go on and on and, if nothing else, Foster’s statement gives this year’s provincial competition some real currency.
The All Blacks play Australia, Japan, England, Ireland and Italy on their end-of-year tour and you could argue there’s the potential for experimentation in three of those games. Foster, and fellow selectors Steve Hansen and Grant Fox, will have a bit to ponder before the squad’s named.
‘‘There’s a few phone calls to a few [provincial] coaches and it’s hard to watch everything,’’ Foster said. ‘‘Foxy’s pretty busy and we narrow down the list so between us coaches we’ve got a few people that we’re keeping an eye on. Sometimes you’re not able to see the whole game, but you are able to go back and look at a player’s game [via video analysis].’’
There are plenty of people who will say New Zealand Rugby’s priorities are wrong or that the playing calendar’s riddled with faults. But, in terms of producing players for the top level, Foster feels the system still serves the country well.
‘‘We always want more and we’re always trying to find things we can do better, but ultimately there are a lot of things that are going right.’’