Who can hook in to be ABs back-up to Coles?

Dane Coles, barring injury, is a certainty for the All Blacks’ No 2 jersey this season, but what of the other front-line New Zealand hookers?

Logic would suggest that they would be ranked Codie Taylor, Liam Coltman, Hika Elliot and James Parsons, in that order, but do the stats bear that out? They are not far off.

Coles himself is playing well for the Hurricanes, though he would love to score a try and boost his lineout accuracy into the 90s percentage, after five throws have gone astray in his four games in 2017.

Codie Taylor is standing out in an industrious Crusaders’ pack. His lineout throwing is accurate, he has scored a try and makes his tackles as the dominant rake in the jobsharing role with Ben Funnell.

Liam Coltman is one of several in the Highlanders’ pack who gets on with hitting rucks, making tackles and trying to steal ball at the breakdown. He does this effectively in his average of 72 minutes on the field, the most of any New Zealand hooker in Super Rugby.

However, his problem is his lineout throwing, the converted prop operating at 81%.

Having superseded the injured Nathan Harris at the Chiefs, Hika Elliot is performing solidly for his franchise, though he seems to be something of Average minutes Tackles .. .. Lineouts .. .. Turnovers .. .. Average minutes Tackles .. .. Lineouts .. .. Turnovers .. .. Average minutes Tackles .. .. Lineouts .. .. Turnovers .. .. Average minutes Tackles .. .. Lineouts .. .. Turnovers .. .. Average minutes Tackles .. .. Lineouts .. .. Turnovers: .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 55.3 .. 6.3 86% 0 .. . . 54.3 .. 3.7 79% 0.7 .. .. .. .. .. 46.5 2.8 93% 0.3 50.8 9.2 94% 0.2 .. 72 .. 9 . . 81% .. 1 a forgotten All Black. It is curious because he throws into the lineout as well as anyone, carries strongly and does his core roles with aplomb.

James Parsons of the Blues has just recently returned from concussion, so his numbers should not be fully compared to his rivals.