All Blacks: King Charles rules on wing

Charles Piutau File photo / Getty Images

After Charles Piutau signed for Ulster instead of re-committing to New Zealand Rugby, his World Cup place was tenuous in the extreme.

But his performances in the All Blacks' three tests this year mean he will almost certainly travel to the UK with the squad next month.

It's not stretching things to say Piutau has been the most consistent player for New Zealand this year in the test victories in Apia, Christchurch and Johannesburg, and all from the relatively unfamiliar position of left wing.

He was a surprise selection for last weekend's 27-20 victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park, when many pundits assumed Julian Savea would claim the No11 jersey for the first time this year.

But the selectors went for the 23-year-old Piutau and were repaid with a man-of-the-match performance.

In fact, he may have answered a question for the selectors with his efforts - typically all-action and extremely accurate, including the defusing of a potentially dangerous situation when the All Blacks were caught short on defence before he gathered a bouncing ball and led them from danger.

Piutau doesn't have Savea's size or strength, but he certainly makes the most of what he has, and all this after a Super Rugby season at the Blues marked by inconsistency, injury and, most significantly of all, a deal done with an Irish club which will take him away from New Zealand for two years at least.

Against Manu Samoa, Piutau was busy and energetic in the heat of the afternoon when many of his team-mates wilted.

Against the Pumas, he was good again, scoring a try and impressing with his workrate, although not as much with a cross-kick which went awry.

And in his best performance, against the Boks, he easily led the way for the All Blacks in terms of metres run with the ball (102m), carries (14) and defenders beaten (6). At only about 95kg compared with Savea's 107kg, Piutau definitely punches above his weight.

He would have been available for most of next season for the Blues before moving to Belfast, and the franchise tried hard to keep him. only to be blocked by New Zealand Rugby. For Blues skipper Jerome Kaino, it's easy to see why he was a wanted man.

"He got given a challenge by the [All Blacks] coaches to take his chances and I think in the last three games, he's performed really well," Kaino said. "He's been a standout. He certainly took his chance last weekend at Jo'burg - I'm really happy for him.

"He's had a tough season like most of us Blues boys but, with the injuries he's had, he hasn't really had the chance to express the talent he has and I'm really happy that he had the opportunity in the All Blacks environment to stake a claim for that World Cup squad. I think he has done that.

"He's a smart kid and very humble - hence why the coaches and I picked him for the leadership group at the Blues. He's definitely a calming influence on a lot of those younger players at the Blues.

"He'll be missed next year when he heads overseas, but he's shown in the last few games why he was regarded as an important part of the All Blacks and why they were fighting to keep him here."

Piutau, able to play left or right wing, fullback and possibly centre, has seen his stocks rise, and it has been strengthened by Waisake Naholo's broken leg and the fact Cory Jane is still struggling with an ankle problem.

Piutau, moving overseas to broaden his horizons as much as anything else, was understood to be extremely upset when told by the All Blacks coaches his decision had put a World Cup place under threat - a dream is to play against brother Siale, who represents Tonga, at the tournament.

But just when his dream looked like slipping from his reach, he might have forced the selectors' hands.