Rugby: Quite a scrum waiting to fill All Blacks No 14 jersey

Julian Savea. Photo / Getty Images

Julian Savea is the undisputed starting choice in the No 11 jersey for the All Blacks but who will play on the right wing?

If All Blacks coach Steve Hansen decides to use Ben Smith at fullback, which would force Israel Dagg out, the No 14 jersey will be up for grabs.

Hurricane Cory Jane has plenty of runs on the board from 53 test appearances since making his debut against Australia in 2008, but is that enough?.

Jane, 32, has been a somewhat quiet achiever this year but has produced steady attacking numbers, including 14 offloads in 10 appearances. He's also beaten 20 defenders.

One of Jane's best qualities is his defence; he's made 34 tackles this season and missed only one.

Contenders are nipping at the heels of Jane, though, and from a statistical point of view, Highlander Waisake Naholo has enjoyed a big campaign this year.

The former New Zealand sevens representative has played every minute for the Highlanders this season and in 11 games he's made 115 carries for 934m at an average of 8.12m per carry, the fourth-best average among Kiwi wings. Naholo also leads Super Rugby with eight tries.

Chiefs outside back James Lowe is another big mover this year and although he's more at home on the left wing, he has made 15 clean breaks, the third-most among All Blacks-eligible wings. Crusader Nemani Nadolo, who plays for Fiji, has made 20 breaks, the most of any wing in a New Zealand Super Rugby team, alongside Naholo.

Patrick Osborne is another who plays on the left flank but he has stood out for the Highlanders this year. He's made the most offloads of any New Zealand wing with 21, while he has beaten 29 defenders, the third-most among Kiwis.

Hansen has plenty to ponder when he looks at the No 14 jersey for the All Blacks.

Hurricanes ready for niggle

The table-topping Hurricanes host the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday night and it promises to be a close contest.

"They're a very niggly bunch," Hurricanes loose forward Victor Vito said of the Chiefs. "They all buy in to their gameplan and they're a very tight unit, on and off the field."

Vito's assertion that the Chiefs are "niggly" could come down to the fact the Chiefs are the most penalised team in Super Rugby; they give away 12.2 penalties per game.

"Any team would be pushing the boundaries there and obviously they've been at the top of the game for quite a few years now."

The Hurricanes are no saints themselves and give away 11.3 penalties per game. The Crusaders (11.5) are the second-most penalised team in the competition.