Crotty Taylor-made for All Blacks midfield

As a former Canterbury second five-eighth and knowing the province’s parochialism when rugby is involved, Warwick Taylor is aware his assessment of Ryan Crotty could be perceived as biased.

But the 24-test midfield back and inaugural World Cup winner attempts to state a dispassionate case when lobbying for Crotty’s retention in the All Black starting line-up even when a certain Sonny Bill Williams returns from a leg injury. Since his test debut against the Wallabies in 2013 - off the bench in Sydney after Conrad Smith was granted paternity leave and Malakai Fekitoa was promoted to start at centre - Crotty has spent the majority of his international career as stop-gap. Reliable cover until someone more explosive becomes available.

Now 27, the understated, and in Taylor’s view under-appreciated, Crotty can anticipate an extended run at second five-eighth thanks to Williams partially rupturing an Achilles while playing sevens at the Rio Olympics.

Although the unfortunately concussion-prone Charlie Ngatai, George Moala and now Anton Lienert-Brown are regularly touted as worthier options in the No 12 shirt, Taylor says even the undeniable x-factor offered by Williams might not lead to another automatic demotion for Crotty.

‘‘I can actually see him as long term. The amount of work that he’s doing defensively and now on attack as well, the lines he’s taking ….he’s playing some fantastic rugby at the moment,’’ said Taylor.

‘‘It looked for a while he might be that extra person that’s around but he’s struck with it and things have come right for him.

‘‘I can see Ryan definitely as a 12 and making it his own. In a way he’s your Conrad Smith type of player.

‘‘He does a job and does a job very, very well. Sonny Bill might find it very hard to take it off him. He might have to go out a spot [to centre].’’

In a sense Crotty is the antithesis of Williams, that outrageous offloading offensive weapon who has flitted in and out of the All Blacks since 2010, though by personal choice.

Crotty, meanwhile, has been content, outwardly at least, to do a job when required if Ma’a Nonu or Williams - who is due back in May - was out of contention. He was used off the bench in eight of his first 10 tests but has started his last five and only missed the Bledisloe Cup clash in Wellington after suffering a head knock seven days earlier in Sydney.

That extended run at least rewards his perseverance, and loyalty after a move offshore could have appealed after he missed the 2015 World Cup squad.

‘‘That shows the character of him, the All Blacks means so much to him he has stuck around and he’s taken his opportunity with both hands,’’ said Taylor, who operated either side of Grant Fox and Joe Stanley between 1983-88.

The 56-year-old physical education teacher acknowledged Crotty displayed the same characteristics of a game that took him to the highest level, though was quick to make a distinction.

‘‘He’s got more of an attacking ability that I did. He’s shown lately he’s got the eye for the gap, he can score tries and knows where to be.’’

Crotty scored the opener in Sydney and then ran perfect lines twice in Hamilton last Saturday to notch a brace against the Pumas to complement his core role.

‘‘His defensive work has been fantastic.’’

Look closely at the 57-22 win over Argentina, urged Taylor, and notice Crotty’s input while Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith and Julian Savea provided the eyecatching moments.

‘‘The amount of defensive works he put in that people really don’t see, the extra stuff he does, his work rate was fantastic.’’