Blacks contention

of the All Blacks coaches — the total package Lam offers.

He’s a natural athlete with a rugby player’s instincts. Test football doesn’t offer much space or time, so any wing who can convert what wouldn’t even be considered a quarter chance is immediately of high interest. Having grabbed attention with his pace and power, Lam’s next quest is to show he has the footballing skills needed to play at the next level.

He’s excelling on hard grounds with a dry ball, but when the weather turns and the rugby stiffens, Lam will need to show his worth under the high ball. He’ll need to prove he can defend as well as he attacks, and that he can work in a back three.

Test football brings many more challenges than Super Rugby, so a promising start to the season does not in itself deliver All Blacks selection.

Even if he can keep ticking the boxes, it won’t necessarily be enough to make the cut because the All Blacks have so many options.

Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Ioane and Naholo are just four in the mix. There’s also Jordie Barrett, Havili, Julian Savea and Matt Duffie, with Nehe Milner-Skudder to return from injury as well.

There’s a long way for Lam to go, but for now, he’s probably the most compelling story in Super Rugby because who thought he would emerge the way he has?

It’s hard not to ask where has this guy has been hiding? Bad luck has burdened Lam in recent years. He’s had surgery on knee injuries and has also mixed his time between sevens and XVs. He has enjoyed a prolonged run of fitness and with that, he’s been able to get his speed back. There’s no real mystery, other than seeing just how good Lam could be.