By WYNNE GRAY
It is almost time again for the debate about the All Black captaincy.
In the past decade, when Wayne Shelford and then Sean Fitzpatrick were skippers, there was little discussion about alternatives.
The potential for some serious discussion in 1992 was hijacked when Laurie Mains' choice of captain, Mike Brewer,
was injured and even the rocky patch in 1994 did not produce talk about a switch in skipper.
There were some ordinary results, but Fitzpatrick's selection in the playing XV was never in doubt.
The past three seasons have been different, though, with some moderate All Black seasons and questions about whether Taine Randell and Todd Blackadder deserved to be picked in the side.
In the early stages of the Super 12 this year there has been a rare lull in talk about who should get the job in 2001. Give it a week, perhaps.
The latest Rugby Almanack has not given us that chance. Authors Clive Akers and Geoff Miller have picked their best XV from 2000 and left Blackadder and Randell out. Hooker Anton Oliver is their choice as captain.
"We chose who we thought were the best 15 players from last year and Oliver is captain because he has shown an increased leadership presence," Miller said.
"However, if someone said to us, pick the captain first, then that person may well have been Blackadder."
The Almanack backline is likely to please a majority, and most of the curiosity will be about their pack. They have picked Tana Umaga at centre for the second straight year, saying they could not leave out any of Christian Cullen, Doug Howlett, Jonah Lomu and Umaga from the back four, and that Umaga had the best credentials for centre.
The Japan-domiciled Alama Ieremia is their choice in midfield where the job was held last year by Pita Alatini, Daryl Gibson, Jason O'Halloran and Ieremia at various stages.
Troy Flavell is the blindside flanker, a selection which seems to mirror the authors' reasoning about Umaga.
But the question has to be asked: where was the evidence to justify Royce Willis' inclusion at lock? The Waikato man came back into the frame in the NPC, but he had been injured a lot during the Super 12 and may not even have been as consistent as Dion Waller, Glenn Taylor or Robin Brooke during the year.
Two tighthead props, Gordon Slater and Greg Somerville, get the nod.
Miller said both played the most rugby during the season, unlike many frontrowers who were subbed in the final quarter, and both played in the same All Black front row in the game in Japan.
Four of their five players of the year would be hard to knock out. Cullen, Umaga, Andrew Mehrtens and Justin Marshall had strong seasons, but the choice of Taranaki captain Andy Slater - like his award at the NZRFU function late last season - seems to be a sympathetic reward for longevity rather than playing excellence.
Four of the Almanack's promising players - Sam Broomhall, Mils Muliaina, Rodney So'oialo and Deacon Manu - have graduated to Super 12 this year. The final choice is Counties Manukau utility forward Kristian Ormsby.
Almanack XV: Christian Cullen, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Alama Ieremia, Jonah Lomu, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Ron Cribb, Josh Kronfeld, Troy Flavell, Royce Willis, Norm Maxwell, Gordon Slater, Anton Oliver (capt), Greg Somerville.
Reserves: Bruce Reihana, Carlos Spencer, Mark Robinson, Kupu Vanisi, Taine Randell, Greg Feek, Mark Hammett.
By WYNNE GRAY
It is almost time again for the debate about the All Black captaincy.
In the past decade, when Wayne Shelford and then Sean Fitzpatrick were skippers, there was little discussion about alternatives.
The potential for some serious discussion in 1992 was hijacked when Laurie Mains' choice of captain, Mike Brewer,
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