All Blacks: Latimer determined to justify place

Tanerau Latimer is determined to justify the selectors' faith. Photo / Getty Images

Being the backup to an All Black institution can have its frustrations.

But on balance you'd take that every time, than not be there at all.

Tanerau Latimer could have an instructive chat with former Waikato and All Black hooker Warren Gatland when he arrives in Wales next month.

Gatland, now a popular coach of the Welsh national side, spent four years from 1988 in every All Black overseas squad until 1991. He toured Australia, Wales and Ireland, France and Argentina, and played 17 games for his country.

But he didn't get a single test appearance because Sean Fitzpatrick was in the process of making himself the most famous and durable of All Black hookers.

Still, times, and the game, have changed. Teams these days are selected as 22s, rather than 15s and substitutions are an integral part of the coach's tactical armoury.

Unlike the luckless Gatland, openside flanker Latimer will get playing time as No 2 to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw on the forthcoming six-match trip, which starts against Australia in Tokyo on October 31.

It may come in 15-minute increments at times, depending on McCaw's health and fitness, but it will all add to the breadth of knowledge for the 23-year-old from Te Puke.

Latimer's selection might have been among the last nailed down by the All Black selectors.

Coach Graham Henry remarked when the group of 33 was announced on Sunday that Latimer had turned in an outstanding performance for Bay of Plenty against Manawatu in their Air New Zealand Cup match last Friday night, highlighted by seven turnovers.

"There was a lot of competition for the spot with the other boys playing very well, and I'm stoked to have got it," Latimer said. "I guess it was about me playing well in those last few games to try and grab the spot."

Latimer's closest challengers included Canterbury captain George Whitelock, who got a taste of All Black action against Italy in June, and lively Hawkes Bay player Karl Lowe, who had a storming game when the Bay cleaned out Auckland in round one of the cup, and was a consistently strong performer in that side's campaign.

But Latimer has been earmarked as an uncommonly good No 7 longer. He wasn't snapped up by the Crusaders three years ago for nothing and his combination of efficiency and application has taken the All Black panel's eyes.

A nephew of former All Black wing George Skudder and longtime New Zealand Maori coach and adviser Matt Te Pou, Latimer has made his first three All Black appearances this year, two against France and against Italy.

He was then included in the Tri-Nations squad. That might have given him an advantage, but only if he made it time well spent. Clearly, he did.

Latimer said he had made big strides since getting into the All Black environment, singling out progress on the mental side of the game.

"Getting in front of a computer and doing a bit of visualisation, that kind of stuff. I think it's really helped my game, just going through slow motion picturing yourself doing things."

McCaw has been a useful sounding board. "Not only is he the best person in the world to talk to in that position, but he has huge wealth of experience."

So what about the tour? Five tests, followed by the Barbarians at Twickenham to round it off.

Latimer knows with a World Cup two years away and closing fast, he is holding McCaw's jacket. It's his to drop and he's not planning to, determined to justify the selectors' faith.

The All Black squad's three-day camp starts in Auckland today.