All Blacks: Understudies undone

Daniel Braid. Photo / Getty Images

Several parts of the All Black jigsaw have fallen into place in November but the two critical pieces of back-up cover for Dan Carter and Richie McCaw remain elusive.

The coaching panel continue to speak of Stephen Donald and Daniel Braid in the most upbeat tones, yet it is clear there is little conviction they are the answer for next year's World Cup.

Donald made a damaging cameo appearance in Hong Kong and enjoyed a lively 25 minutes against Scotland. Braid has been seen even less, although the coaching staff were hopeful he'd get a decent run this morning in Cardiff.

Sceptics were not convinced before the tour and even the coaches admit they have learned little more.

One of the key wider goals of the tour has been to keep the core of senior players on the park and work personnel around them. To that end, Donald was never likely to win much game time.

But would he have been given more if the selectors were certain about him? Or, as an alternative to ponder, if Colin Slade or Aaron Cruden had been selected instead, would they have been seen more?

It is moot now - the only certainty being that another five tests have passed without the question of back-up moving any closer to an answer.

The only area where Donald might have advanced his cause is in the way he handled the criticism of his Hong Kong performance and his ability to stay positive about constantly being on the bench.

"We know he's got character, we know he's handled some [tough] things before and he'll handle it again," said assistant coach Wayne Smith of Donald. "We think he's a good player and he fits in well but it is going to be a competitive position next year."

Having a good attitude may not seem like much of a reason to pick Donald for the World Cup, but the importance of fitting in and staying upbeat is given greater emphasis by the coaching panel when it comes to the second choice men in the No 10 and No 7 jerseys.

If McCaw and Carter are fit, they will play. For most others in the squad, there is hope of selection each week; or at least the prospect of getting off the bench is real. That's not really how it is for the men shadowing Carter and McCaw and it can be tough being nothing more than a tackle bag during the week.

At least for Donald, as the only other specialist first five on tour, he's had the security of knowing he'll be on the bench. Braid hasn't been afforded that position as the versatility of the four other loose forwards has meant openside can be covered.

"It is an unenviable role in that he has the captain playing in the same position who is also the best player in the world," says assistant coach Steve Hansen of Braid's predicament. "You are looking for someone who can mentally cope with that because it is important for the team dynamic and Daniel certainly has the mental capacity to cope with the fact he's not playing.

"We have some of the best players in the world at training and when you have people like Daniel competing at training - competing against the best No 7 in the world - you get a fair idea how he's going. We saw him play and we were happy with what he did there and then we have the Super 15 before we go into the World Cup."

Like Donald, Braid has been told that his World Cup chances are dependent now on what happens in Super 15.

Hansen says the nature of the World Cup rules mean they are more than likely to select two specialist opensides in the 30-man squad.

The problem with not doing so is that if McCaw was injured and cover had to be called in, the captain would not be able to re-join the squad.

So it seems that World Cup selection for both back-up roles will boil down to form through Super 15. Donald and Braid have ticked one box on this tour but it is not the most important one. Neither did enough on the field to cement a place.

Hansen suggested Adam Thomson could come into the openside equation having played tests there before. Tanerau Latimer toured last year and could re-ignite his test career if he can perform for the Chiefs.

At first five, Slade and Cruden have been told to get behind the wheel of their respective franchises and show maturity and composure in the way they drive the campaign. An outstanding campaign from one will most likely see them elevated into the World Cup squad ahead of Donald.

With only four tests now before the World Cup, the selectors would have liked more certainty.

They need for two men to be heroes and make the most compelling case for inclusion during Super 15.