All Blacks: Coaches hooked on switch

John Afoa in action. Photo / Getty Images

As a solution to the lack of depth at hooker, the All Black selectors believe John Afoa is just about perfect. Problem is, Afoa himself isn't so sure.

The Blues prop toured Europe last year as the third-choice tighthead and third-choice hooker. The selectors didn't take Aled de Malmanche so asked Afoa to cover for Keven Mealamu or Corey Flynn.

The selectors became sold on the idea, especially as Afoa slipped down the props' pecking order during the tour.

Graham Henry publicly highlighted his scrummaging as a problem - and his work around the field as being of the highest quality.

With Owen Franks in powerful form, Neemia Tialata an old favourite and Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett and Ben Franks all providing reasons to be selected, the prospect of Afoa making the All Black squad as an out-and-out prop do not look particularly good.

If he were to think about shifting to hooker, however, he'll come very much into the frame. "We have not given up on that idea," says All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen. "But it's got to be player driven - it has got to be his choice. He understands that we are keen to see him have a crack."

Since his debut in 2005, Afoa has won 23 caps, mainly as a tighthead. When he missed out on the 2007 World Cup squad, he was urged to think about learning both sides of the scrum. That versatility won him a place on the bench in 2008 but in 2009, he decided he wanted to be a specialist tighthead and to try to establish himself as the best in the country.

That desire remains and Hansen says that, while Afoa hasn't dismissed the idea of a switch, it's been hard to make a commitment as Mealamu also plays at the Blues.

In Franks, Tialata and Franks, the tighthead jersey is covered and at nearly 27, hope is fading Afoa will be able to refine and improve his scrummaging technique enough to merit a test spot.

However, there is a dearth of talent at hooker and no obvious successors to Andrew Hore and Mealamu, who can't have too much time left in the top flight.

While Afoa might not be a destructive scrummager as a tighthead, he could be at hooker. At 125kg, he'd add enormous weight to the middle of the front row and his ball-carrying is exceptional. The only unknown is his throwing.

"From what we have seen, John has natural throwing ability," says Hansen. "But the only way you can see whether he can throw under pressure is to put him under pressure."

That pressure situation is unlikely to be an All Black test. With Mealamu likely to start and Flynn - who played club rugby yesterday - expected to take his place on the bench, the situation is not yet desperate.

De Malmanche was also mentioned by Hansen as having played for the All Blacks, suggesting the Chiefs hooker will be called on should Flynn or Mealamu be injured.

"We will be looking to the guys we know and who have played hooker first," says Hansen. "But that doesn't stop us having a hunch this [Afoa's switch to hooker] could work."

Hansen felt it would be a big risk to throw Afoa into a test at hooker but accepted they might take it if their options are further compromised.

The more likely conversion route for Afoa is Auckland's provincial campaign. That's where he could start a few games at hooker - which would give him experience, show if he can handle the specialist demands of the role and also prove to the All Black coaches he's serious about making the transition.

Given that de Malmanche is not a great thrower and Flynn is so injury-prone, it is realistic to see Afoa establishing himself as the No 3 hooker behind Hore and Mealamu by year's end. It is now almost certain Hore will need surgery which could rule him out of action until 2011.

In which case, the door really is open for Afoa.