Mikey Vuicakau. Photo / Warren Buckland
If you think All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has back-three issues, spare a thought for Hawke's Bay Magpies counterpart Craig Philpott.
As was the case in Napier last week Hansen again has four top-shelf players to consider for his back-three berths in the ABs side to take on the Springboks in Wellington on Saturday night.
While Hansen knows who will get the nod out of Julian Savea, Ben Smith, Cory Jane and Magpie Israel Dagg, he won't make his decision public until the team is announced tomorrow.
For Philpott it's a sharp contrast in the countdown to the Magpies' first Ranfurly Shield defence of the season against Otago at Napier's McLean Park on Sunday.
"I honestly don't know who will be in our back three and probably won't know until Thursday," Philpott said yesterday.
Definitely missing will be winger Mikey Vuicakau who is out four weeks with a bruised lung suffered in last Friday night's ITM Cup fourth-round loss to Northland.
Vuicakau spent Friday night in hospital and returned to the Bay on a later flight than his teammates at the weekend.
Like Hansen, Philpott isn't short of options including Hawke's Bay Development squad players Trinity Spooner-Neera and Shannan Chase, who have been training with the Magpies this week.
It will be a surprise if either of them gets a start but one could prop up the subs' bench depending on who Philpott and his assistant Danny Lee opt for in their starting XV.
It would seem logical to go with Matt Berquist at fullback and Richard Buckman, who wore the No15 jersey against Northland and Ryan Tongia on the wings. If Philpott and Lee go this route then Berquist could back up first five-eighth Ihaia West with the kicking duties.
Buckman is also another handy goalkicking option but one yet to be used this season.
However, this back three will only be used if West shakes off his hamstring injury. If he doesn't, expect Berquist to start in the No10 jersey, Buckman to stay at fullback and Robbie Fruean to start on the wing, which would probably see Jason Shoemark partner Andrew Horrell in the midfield.
Philpott and Lee are fortunate to have so many options.
Philpott is confident West will be fit to start and No8 Gareth Evans will be ready after missing the Northland game with an ankle injury.
Prop Adrian Barone is a doubtful starter with a calf injury while hooker Ged Robinson will again be unavailable as he recovers from knee surgery.
In Robinson's absence, Tivaini Fomai will again be the back-up rake to Ash Dixon.
Former Hawke's Bay age-group rugby representative Hamish Pyne has been selected in the New Zealand Combined Services team.
Pyne, a stores accountant in the Navy, played for the New Zealand Navy team which won last week's New Zealand Combined Services tournament in Auckland with a win against New Zealand Army and a draw with the New Zealand Air Force.
A former Napier Boys High School 1st XV halfback and a member of the Hurricanes title-winning Hawke's Bay under-16 team in 2010, Pyne is unavailable for the national side's South Island tour this month but will travel overseas with the team next year.
Later this month he will play in the Commonwealth Cup tournament in Auckland with the New Zealand Navy team against the United States Marines and other navy teams from around the globe.
Pyne won the New Zealand Navy team's rookie trophy for the best first-year player last week.