Vito jack of all trades in ABs pack: could wear 5, 6, 7 or 8

Victor Vito has the potential to be as valuable to the All Blacks as a multi-skilled tradesman on an under-staffed building site.

One of six loose forwards listed in the All Blacks’ 31-man Rugby World Cup squad, Vito is recognised for his ability to play either blindside flanker or No 8, carry the ball strongly and be an explosive leaper in the lineouts.

The reality, however, is that Vito’s brief may extend much further than just covering the two back row positions during the global tournament in Britain.

The selectors’ decision to carry just three locks in Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano into the tournament has resulted in loose forwards Jerome Kaino and Vito being told they could be transferred into the second row if injuries strike the incumbents.

Vito’s value stretches further, even further than providing some emergency ballast at lock – some- thing he proved at the 2011 World Cup when he started in the unfamiliar openside flanker spot in the pool match against Canada in Wellington, and later ended-up on the right wing.

"I wasn’t expecting to play that game, actually, and Richie [McCaw], as we all know, had a bit of a problem with his foot and it was decided at the time it was probably best not to risk it,’’ Vito recollected.

‘‘And that is when I got chucked into No 7. My whole career in this team has been to back-up six, seven and eight – and potentially lock, at a pinch, with the makeup of this squad.’’

When captain McCaw, who broke a bone in his foot in the previous pool game against France and ignored the pain to keep playing through the sudden-death matches was rested, it enabled Vito to make a rare start in the No 7 jersey.

Given the circumstances of the day, both on and off the park, it is not surprising that Vito’s recollec- tion of the 79-15 win over Canada in Wellington’s Cake Tin are vivid. In the morning, the All Blacks confirmed key playmaker Dan Carter, who was to captain his country for the first time because McCaw was injured, was out of the tournament because he had ruptured a groin muscle during a goal kicking session the previous day.

Colin Slade, who also suffered a serious groin injury in the quarterfinal against Argentina the following weekend, started at first five-eighth against Canada, but was later shuffled to the wing before being forced off with an ankle injury. That resulted in Vito being switched to the wing.

‘‘If anything I just remember dotting down for a cheeky meat pie [try],’’ Vito reflected.

‘‘I think the ball bobbled out from a scrum, 5-metres out from the Canadian line, and I just picked it up. It was probably the easiest try I ever scored but I claimed it. And I played wing that day too and that was … something else.’’

Vito confirmed the All Blacks had scrutinised footage of Argentina’s recent games ahead of their opening pool match against the Pumas at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 21.

But halfback TJ Perenara noted the All Blacks hadn’t tried to simulate the Argentineans’ game plans when they had a rugged contested training in Auckland last week.

‘‘It was more an opportunity for us to get out there and put ourselves under pressure and under physical strain,’’ Perenara said.