Piutau still ticks the boxes for Hansen

Piutau is a player whose temperament suits the big occasion and gives him the confidence of expression. Photo / Getty Images

The All Black squad for the World Cup is: Ben Smith, Charles Piutau ...

On the form that is being shown in the Super Rugby series, Smith and Piutau must head the choices when the selectors pare their squad down to 31 for the end of year tournament.

We know form is not the sole arbiter when Steve Hansen and his crew make their decisions about men who suit their style, fit into the squad and can play.

There is no doubt Piutau ticks all three of those boxes.

They identified him as a player of special talent two years ago and Piutau has responded with a string of strong performances in the black jersey. He has played wing and fullback and can play centre, and that versatility offers a range of cover from the bench.

Piutau is a player whose temperament suits the big occasion and gives him the confidence of expression. He's been one of the few backs who have brought some decent form to a messy Blues backline this season.

Which says plenty for his mental strength considering the anguish he must have been through as he mulled over an unexpected rival offer to take up a two-year deal with the Ulster club.

He'll need more of that resilience in the wake of comments from disappointed All Black coach Hansen, who was miffed Piutau had delayed returning a signed extension to his NZ Rugby contract.

We don't know all the circumstances. Maybe NZ Rugby and the Piutau camp both dawdled in their negotiations, maybe there was something else we don't know about, maybe Piutau was poleaxed by the Ulster offer, which offered him and his extended family unimagined financial security.

Piutau is giving up the chance of all sorts of rugby honours - playing sevens at next year's Olympics, the Lions in 2017 and an All Black jersey for the next two years.

He's got a taste of life with the All Blacks and knows what all that means. It fuels most of his world and was likely to once more until the Ulster offer.

We have heard the NZ Rugby hierarchy repeat many times that they don't take things for granted until they have a signed contract in front of them. This time it didn't happen, they were not relentless and there was no return to sender.

Piutau had a choice and he made it. There has been all sorts of indignant huffing and puffing about the ethics and morality of the case.

When that eases and the attention turns to judgments about prospective All Blacks, let's hope there is no asterisk against Piutau's name.