Paul Lewis: 'Middle managers' not up to top job

Tamati Ellison has been part of the offshore exodus. Photo / Getty Images

Last week, there was hand-wringing over the loss of what All Black coach Graham Henry called "the middle management" - second-tier players who could step up to the All Blacks.

With the current injury list, New Zealand's lack of depth was exposed and Henry was portrayed as shaking his head over problems not of his making; beyond his control.

But... hang on a minute. While New Zealand rugby stocks are undeniably low (there are over 70 first-class players plying their trade overseas), two points need to be raised - how many "middle managers" would be All Black selections right now; and just what has been the motivation for players leaving?

There are even very few All Blacks playing overseas who would figure in the All Blacks' selection plans right now - even if NZRU rules allowed them to be. Carl Hayman would certainly be, but he's not "middle management". Nick Evans? Okay. Greg Somerville? Maybe. With the current dearth of locks, maybe someone like Simon Maling, even at 34, might have been worth a temporary recall. Or Greg Rawlinson. At second five, 29-year-old Aaron Mauger might be pressing and maybe Rico Gear on the wing, although he too might not pass the current catch-kick scrutiny.

But that's it. It's not as if whole teams of "middle management" are lining up demanding selection to the first team. Even Tamati Ellison, Antony Tuitavake and Tim Bateman - the latest to head overseas and who helped focus attention on the "middle managers" - are hardly in the "must have" department when it comes to All Blacks selection. Which is, of course, why they are going.

The point is that some of the "middle management" can come up the scale and get a chance - through injury, usually - to become good All Blacks.

But New Zealand rugby can't have it both ways. The Henry-Wayne Smith-Steve Hansen selection panel has, over the years, tried and discarded many players. There is an argument that some were discarded too early, before their development could blossom with repeated exposure.

Most of those released have followed their disengagement with an overseas stint. The message to many of the "middle managers" is clear: Even if you make the All Blacks, there is no guarantee you will remain there. If a big-money offer slides across the table, don't be too quick to slide it back.

New Zealand rugby erred badly in letting Nick Evans go - a mistake still being felt.

The All Black roundabout of recent years has, no question, devalued the jersey and made it less desirable - for some - when presented with other options. So it's a push-pull system. We push them out as unwanted and the money and the lifestyle overseas pulls them in.

Look at Isaac Ross. A test player last season who even called the lineouts, he can't get in the Crusaders this year. His 'crime' is that he is not thought to be tough enough - an outstanding ball player and athlete but, in All Black terms, not quite hard enough; not strong enough at the clean-out and the scrum. He might get better, you think, if he was played.

At the moment, Ross is still in New Zealand but it's possible to wonder how long that situation will be so.

There is no question that there has been a huge player drain from this country, as this table shows.

There is a decent first XV that could be assembled from these ranks - but there is still a large question mark over how many would get into a current All Black team.