Start with Crotty and build from there, says Little

In the latest of Stuff’s series buildup to the naming of the All Blacks team for the Rugby Championship, Walter Little discusses the midfield with Aaron Goile.

Ngani Laumape should get the nod at second five-eighth in the absence of the injured Sonny Bill Williams, if Walter Little had his way.

One of the country’s premium No 12s, Little played 50 tests from 1990-98. Two decades on, he certainly marvels at the depth in the current-day crop.

The selectors could have carried four midfielders in their squad for the four-nation series, as they did last year; but with news this week that Williams will miss the opening two tests – against the Wallabies in Sydney and Auckland – surely all five who were picked for June’s French series will remain.

Blatant nepotism aside, with Little’s son Michael having a fine season with the Sunwolves, it’s Ryan Crotty who is his go-to guy, his No 1 choice in the country. He believes you select him first and build around him, with the 37-test

30-year-old’s ability to play both second-five and centre.

Little’s preferred partnership is Williams-Crotty, but with the former still recovering from the injury sustained against France in Dunedin on June 23, he’d like to see Laumape used.

‘‘I’d probably start Laumape at

12 and Crotty at centre, and just see how that combination works, in the whole environment,’’ Little said of a partnership which has only paired in black in the final 20 or so minutes of the ugly second test against France in Wellington.

In that series, for the first two fixtures Crotty was at 12 and Anton Lienert-Brown at 13, with Laumape on the bench, while in

the third test Williams paired with Jack Goodhue.

Laumape, 25, has shown storming touches for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby – none more so than his four-try effort against the Blues last month – and it’s that hardrunning ability which Little sees as a sort of like-for-like replacement for Williams.

‘‘He’s a lot stronger than what most people think. And if they just give him half an inch, he’ll take it.

‘‘He’s got a lot better, varied his game a bit with the long passes once he’s broken through, tending to give before he gets taken to ground, which I like – I’d rather them stay on their feet and get back in the game again.’’

Since his quick adaption back to rugby after leaving the Warriors, Laumape has chalked up six tests after debuting last year, though has only started one – the infamous finale against the Lions. But this could be the opening for him, Little believes.

‘‘One guy’s injury problem is another guy’s opportunity. And I think Laumape won’t hold back, he’ll go hard to try and secure himself [that berth].’’

While that’s the way Little would start, he would like to see every player given a start during the six-game championship, before looking to bed in a preferred combination around the last game of the end-of-year tour, going into next year’s World Cup.

He acknowledged Goodhue’s superb season with the Crusaders and familiarity with Crotty could mean an ideal partnership to continue at international level. But the other worry Little raised was Crotty’s history of head knocks, seemingly requiring an HIA every second match of late.

‘‘Is he going to last right throughout this whole competition, is he going to be good for next year?’’ Little mused.

He feels Jordie Barrett also provides decent midfield cover, though is less keen on Rieko Ioane moving from the wing, feeling he’s not ready for it at international level and that move would be ‘‘just a waste’’.