Flynn keen to be the All Blacks' number one No 2

Corey Flynn knows success with Canterbury will raise his profile. Marty Melville / Getty Images

Every time an All Black lineout goes awry, a hundred theories waft round the living rooms of the land.

It's either the jumper's fault, the lifters have botched it up, there's too much running up and down the line pre-delivery - or the finger gets pointed at the thrower.

And every time that happens, there'll be a fair number wondering if it's the bloke with the No 2 on his back who has to put his hand up.

It is, of course, a team operation and far more complex than simply blaming one person.

Keven Mealamu is the country's top No 2. That's a given. But after him it's a case of personal preference.

Right now, Taranaki's Andrew Hore seems to have the inside running, albeit narrowly, from Anton Oliver.

The former All Black captain, at 30, is the old man of the hooking quartet, and heads most people's pecking order.

The youngest, at 25, is Canterbury captain Corey Flynn.

He got his All Black initiation at the 2003 World Cup under John Mitchell, coming off the bench for the last 23 minutes in place of Mark Hammett in the big win over Canada.

He made his only start in the next test against Tonga, a 91-7 belting, and scored his only test try. Flynn got the last nine minutes against Italy in Rome a year later - and that's been his lot so far.

The selectors turned to the strong-running, skilful Southlander to captain the Junior All Blacks after his Canterbury teammate Reuben Thorne ruled himself out of the Pacific Five Nations tournament in June, a hint that the selectors see certain qualities in him.

But Flynn's ambitions remain undimmed by the two-year absence from the All Blacks.

It's just that he tries to keep a perspective about such things, especially when he hears the talk that he must be in the national selectors' frame. "I try not to think about it too much," he said.

"It's quite hard when everyone's talking about it. You try to stay away from the papers or watching the sports news because when people talk you up and nothing happens you can feel a little bit disappointed."

Flynn is captaining Canterbury this season and brings a strong side to Waikato Stadium tonight for the big game of the Air New Zealand Cup third round.

He tries to use his work with Canterbury to enhance his case for a recall and he recognises that performing well in a strong team can't hurt his prospects.

"That sort of takes care of itself. Probably in the back of my mind. I'd dearly love to be with the All Blacks. But the reality is I'm not, so it's about being here for this team and pushing my case forward."

For now, though, Flynn's thoughts are on helping Canterbury maintain their pre-eminence in the domestic game in the inaugural cup competition, and making sure the Ranfurly Shield grows a few more cobwebs in its Jade Stadium cabinet.