All Blacks: Who will start in the midfield against the Lions?

All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa and Anton Lienert-Brown celebrate a try against Italy. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Two weeks ago Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams were the starting All Blacks midfield against the Lions. When the All Blacks return to Eden Park on Saturday neither of the two will be there.

Crotty suffered a hamstring injury in the first test victory while Williams has been hit with a four-week suspension for his red card offense in Wellington.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has a big decision to make with Malakai Fekitoa, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue all vying for the 12 and 13 jerseys.

Herald rugby writers Gregor Paul, Patrick McKendry and Liam Napier weigh in on the midfield dilemma.

Gregor Paul - Lienert-Brown and Fekitoa
These two have played before - at the end of last year - and they stack as the most experienced combination. This is a huge game and experience will matter. Fekitoa was outstanding when he played for the Highlanders against the Lions and if he can deliver another similar defensive effort, the All Blacks will be more than happy.
Harsh on Ngani Laumape but his long term development might not benefit from being asked to start such a big game. He can be injected from the bench.

Patrick McKendry - Lienert-Brown and Fekitoa
Fekitoa will be the favourite for the No12 jersey for his greater experience. Laumape did well four days after playing the Lions for the Hurricanes, and is a possibility, but another bench spot might be considered a safer option. Crusaders midfielder Goodhue, included in the squad at the start of the series as injury cover, has an exciting future, but a test debut in a series decider against the Lions must be considered a big roll of the dice.

Liam Napier - Lienert-Brown and Fekitoa
The most experienced combination, and one that's started three times previously in the All Blacks midfield for three victories. The first came in Lienert-Brown's debut, a 29-9 win over the Wallabies in Wellington last year. The other two were against Italy in Rome and Ireland in Dublin; a match of similar magnitude after the All Blacks loss in Chicago two weeks prior. While the All Blacks believe Lienert-Brown is best suited to centre, he is well adept at second five-eighth, too. With Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams out, Fekitoa's recall does not surprise. Rumours persist about his departure to France at the end of this year after initially falling down the pecking order. But, right now, his defensive work is too good to overlook. That's what the All Blacks need opposite classy Lions centre Jonathan Davies. No doubt Jack Goodhue and Ngani Laumape are quality players with big futures but it would seem a big ask to throw either rookie into start a test of this stature.