Canes’ ABs contenders queue up to face Blues

It’s not just Super Rugby Pacific title credentials that will be shaped as the pace-setting Hurricanes and Blues set the tone for the playoffs run in.

As Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw noted recently when asked about his slew of All Blacks contenders, now is when they need to raise their hand highest.

“If I’m an All Blacks selector, these are the games I’ll start watching,” he said of fixtures like Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash in Auckland.

New coach Scott Robertson and his fellow selectors have plenty to chew over, with a few high-profile departures and Japan-based trio Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett soon to return.

Here are some key positions and matchups where the spotlight may shine brighter at Eden Park, with an eye to All Blacks selection for the two England tests in July:

Loosehead prop: Xavier Numia

The race for the black No 1 jersey just heated up, with Tamaiti Williams returning from injury for the Crusaders against the Highlanders, and incumbent Ethan de Groot back as captain in Dunedin.

Then there’s 25-year-old, 111kg Numia, who also got a rest last weekend and looked every bit an All Blacks contender in the early rounds alongside Asafo Aumua (now sidelined until the playoffs) and Tyrel Lomax, who owns the All Blacks No 3 jersey.

The Hurricanes’ scrum has been huge, and their bruising ball carriers have made an impact. Numia is your classic allrounder, as the modern prop needs to be: scrums well, carries strongly with excellent skill, gets around the field, and defends powerfully.

How he compares with seasoned All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi in the blue No 1 jersey will be fascinating, and could offer a pointer to Numia’s chances of a first All Blacks callup.

Openside flanker: Peter Lakai

He only turned 21 in March, but Lakai has made an effortless step up to first-choice No 7. On Saturday, he will get a stern test against World Cup All Black Dalton Papali’i, which offers one of the more absorbing head-to-head clashes.

No 8: Brayden Iose

Talk about hotly contested areas. The black No 8 jersey will be as keenly fought as anything, with Savea seemingly slotting straight back in, and Blues loosie Hoskins Sotutu one of the players of the season so far.

Iose began with a rush, too, and reminded Hurricanes fans that there is life without Savea (for this season at least).

Halfback: TJ Perenara

With Cam Roigard out for six months, and the Blues’ Finlay Christie out with a groin injury, the rejuvenated Perenara looks a lock for one halfback spot in Robertson’s 23.

Folau Fakatava of the Highlanders and Cortez Ratima of the Chiefs, in that order, look to be his closest challengers.

Fullback: Ruben Love

Fast and unpredictable, Love will want a stellar showing against the Blues to continue pushing his case. With Will Jordan out with injury, and Barrett needing to show he’s returned from Japan in top shape, the opening is there, with Love looking the top contender ahead of Shaun Stevenson of the Chiefs. Blues No 15 Zarn Sullivan may also have something to say about that.