By WYNNE GRAY
Fullback
Age: 24
Height: 1.74m
Weight: 83kg
NPC team: Canterbury
Super 12: Crusaders
Super 12 games: 16
Test debut: 2001
Test caps: 4
He can run, he can goalkick and is a pretty useful fullback, but where does Ben Blair fit into the World Cup mix?
The answer is as
a back-up, perhaps as one of the sacrifice selections who may be used against a side like Tonga when there may be even greater risk of injury to frontline choices.
With Mils Muliaina and Leon MacDonald the preferred choices in the No 15 jersey and Doug Howlett also with test experience in that position, Blair has to be an auxiliary choice.
Goalkicking will be his strongest claim for test inclusion, where his accurate radar during rare NPC games will be a reminder to the selectors if the first-choice All Black kickers are unsuccessful.
The 24-year-old's part in the cup has been signalled, however, with his release for some NPC games during the World Cup training camp schedule.
He is not yet part of the best-test XV and reserves mix.
But that can change very quickly. Muliaina was viewed as a utility All Black back-up when the initial squad was chosen until he was promoted after MacDonald was concussed and could not be displaced.
A similar mishap for Blair has his hulking team-mate Brad Thorn forever grateful.
When Blair damaged his shoulder on the All Black tour late last year he could not recover in time for the Super 12 and the vacancy was filled by Thorn who had decided to reactivate his rugby career.
A Coaster whose father and grandfather played rugby for Buller, Blair chose the red and black colours of Canterbury instead.
