Ranger hoping for a playing role

Rene Ranger feels like he's living life on the fringes at the moment, not wholly wanted by the All Blacks yet unable to participate fully in the ITM Cup for Northland.
The Wellsford flyer thrives on playing rugby but gets on a plane bound for South Africa today not knowing if he will get a chance to play in next Saturday's Tri-Nations match in Johannesburg.
"I've had no hint from the management or the coaching staff saying that I'm going to get any game time, so I feel like I'm living in the shadows a bit," he said.
The player called "Superman" by All Blacks backs coach Wayne Smith after aceing his fitness tests just four weeks ago is trying to stay positive but it's not hard to identify frustration in his voice.
"They probably just want to use me as a body [tackle] bag at the moment. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy I'm going but I've got to get past players like Israel Dagg and Joe Rokocoko to get on the field and I think I'm still a bit behind the line at the moment but I'm still stoked to be in the team," he said.
The hard-running outside back has proved his value at the ITM Cup and the Super-15 level but has only played twice for the All Blacks - once as a replacement against Wales in Hamilton and then again 31-17 win over South Africa in Wellington, where he scored his first try.
Ranger is one of four players to be added to the 22-strong squad to travel to Africa, along with Anthony Boric, John Afoa and Israel Dagg. He is keen to make the most of the trip and remind the All Black coaching staff of his talents.
"The idea is to train hard and see if I can get the nod and get some game time, if not, hopefully I'll get back to New Zealand and be able to play some provincial rugby and help Northland to make the top half of the table," he said.
He said the spin-off of his All Black involvement is that he gets to work on improving his game and also bring back what he learns to Northland where he has become one of the senior players in a young Northland side.
At just 23, he is now in his fifth season for Northland.
He is optimistic that Northland will get over last week's 25-24 defeat by North Harbour and defeat Manawatu tomorrow.
"All the boys in the backline are gelling quite well, we've still got a few young guys who have still to get on the field but their time will come I suppose," he said.

 Ranger is pleased to see Bryce Woodward taken on as Blues' assistant coach next season and hopes it will benefit Northland rugby. "I'm happy for him. I'm pretty proud that a Northlander has become the assistant coach for the Blues and hopefully he can help to expose a few Northland players and help them to play at that level," he said.