By WYNNE GRAY
All Blacks coach Wayne Smith was coy about many issues yesterday, but staunch about his selection criteria for the approaching Japan and Europe tour.
Form had to be the main measure, "it can't be any other way," he said in discussing Alama Ieremia's decision to quit New Zealand rugby next year.
And in another development last night, Wellington No 8 Filo Tiatia could be about to follow Ieremia overseas.
"Incumbents will get the first opportunity. If that level is good enough they will be picked, but if someone is playing better ... "
"Form is the big point but then we also have to take into account attitude and the ability to step up.
"We cannot coach scared," Smith said about the selection difficulties.
With Ieremia signing a three-year deal with liquor giant Suntory in Japan and Canterbury centre Mark Robinson in injury rehab, all the speculation will be about Tana Umaga.
During the year, he confessed he wanted to play more at centre because he lacked the pace to stay on the wing. He even threatened to leave Wellington to achieve his plan.
Smith used him as his test backup centre while Wellington also played him in that position instead of the injured Ieremia in the opening semifinal win against Auckland last week.
Ieremia was to test his strained hamstring last night at training for Saturday's NPC final against Canterbury, but there was word in the capital that even if Ieremia survived, the staff would go with Umaga.
Whether that theory will become an All Black plan as well will be revealed on Sunday.
The coach said his squad would likely be a split of 14 forwards and 12 backs, though that could alter with injury.
He was not prepared to give any details on the injury list, nor a definitive statement on whether he now classed Ieremia as off the selection plans, like retiring flanker Josh Kronfeld.
"There is no hard and fast rule and I do not want this to take any focus away from the NPC final," he said.
"Our first job is to win test matches, but at provincial level, when players decide it is time to go you wonder how much you will get out of them."
In the leadup to the first NPC semifinal, there were suggestions Wellington's twin injured Ieremia and Tiatia were strong candidates to leave for Japan. Ieremia made that official yesterday and Smith confirmed Tiatia was also a target. Smith said the New Zealand Rugby Union were doing their best to offer fair contracts to players, but it was impossible to compete with the sort of money being offered by clubs in Japan, France and Britain.
He also said the bruising No 8 - whom he labelled "probably the outstanding player of the NPC when he was injured" - was ready to play again after breaking his arm six weeks ago.
But inquiries about injuries to Robinson, Craig Dowd, Leon MacDonald, Kees Meeuws, Ron Cribb and others met with maximum resistance.
Form and leadership continued to be the selection yardstick for Smith, assistant Tony Gilbert and selector Peter Thorburn.
"Some have stepped up and some have not," Smith said of the NPC demands placed on the All Blacks after the Tri-Nations.
"We will never make changes lightly. We know the talent, skill and desire of the players. If there are changes it will hurt but we have a responsibility to the jersey, to the team and to the country.
"Signals are important. We care about people we pick, which makes it difficult. But if we are genuine we have got to send the right signals that some have to pick themselves up.
"It is no good bullshitting. Sometimes to be a friend you've got to say 'sorry, go away and prove yourself."'
Smith said if any current All Blacks were left out of the touring squad they would not be given any advance warning. Later though, there would be time for discussion and suggestions.
All Blacks schedule/scoreboard
Rugby: Selection approach remains the same
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