Rugby: Injury curse clips All Black wings

Joe Rokocoko. Photo / Getty Images

It happens every year now.

An injury curse strikes a specific position.

In 2007 it was locks when Jason Eaton and James Ryan suffered serious knee injuries within weeks of each other, Ali Williams broke his jaw and then Keith Robinson's back and other ailments flared.

In 2008 it was halfbacks. Brendon Leonard badly damaged his knee then Andy Ellis took a big hit to the ribcage leaving third choice Jimmy Cowan to take over.

This year it is wings who have been struck. Hosea Gear sustained knee ligament damage in South Africa. Sitiveni Sivivatu felt his shoulder tear in Brisbane the following week and seven days later Lelia Masaga's ankle took a pounding from the Lions.

The latter two are All Blacks, Sivivatu a certain starter and Masaga was showing the kind of form that was surely going to take him close to the national team. Sivivatu should recover soon and be ready to jump into the All Black No 11 shirt when the time comes.

Joe Rokocoko, as long as the curse doesn't strike, should join his cousin on the other flank. That's despite the fact Rokocoko has been patchy at best. He's not been his usual dynamic self this campaign so far but he's always been a big game player.

No one should be too worried about big Joe. He's always needed the big occasion to drive out his best form and with 52 test caps behind him, he's not exactly the sort of bloke you give up on.

But the injuries to Gear and Masaga have clouded the picture as to who is going to be backing up the Fijian cousins.

Masaga's injury is particularly unfortunate as he was building a compelling case for inclusion. Supposedly his game comes with defensive flaws and maybe, with some hard searching, they can be found.

What he definitely brings is this incredible ability to make things happen when he has the ball. He's a match-winner, a genuine finisher and line-breaker. An estimated six weeks on the sidelines will make it hard to pick him for the June tests.

So to whom can the selectors turn? One option is Richard Kahui but with France unlikely to be at full strength and Italy struggling, there is an opportunity to give a genuine wing much-needed experience.

Rudi Wulf's return from injury is timely. He's a more natural wing than Blues team-mate Anthony Tuitavake and has a deeper portfolio of skills.

Tuitavake's explosive power is phenomenal and, like Masaga, he can make something from nothing. He doesn't have a reliable kicking game, however, and that is a concern.

All Black backs coach Wayne Smith says the game has evolved to where there is not a great difference between the role of wing and of fullback.

"I think both roles require speed, evasion and a good kicking game. It's pretty fundamental that the fullback and wings can kick the ball and catch the high ball well under pressure. They have to be able to chase well so they need a fair bit of speed endurance, too.

"I think the similarities in the roles can be seen in the way the likes of Jared Payne, Paul Williams and Cory Jane are all managing to switch from the wing to fullback."

And maybe this is what the panel will end up doing - they will select a specialist fullback with a view to using him on the wing if they have to.

Wulf is only returning to first class football now and may not be ready for tests by June.

He'll be especially challenged to make the grade if the Blues fail to reach the playoffs.

Tuitavake brings an offensive dimension others don't have but let's not forget the selectors didn't promote him to the No 14 jersey last year when Rokocoko was injured and he and Wulf were the only two wings in the squad.

Jane impressed Smith last year on the end of year tour and if he can put some form down in the next few weeks will probably be in pole position.

Williams was close to selection last year but there is this slight suspicion that his top end speed is not quite there to play a test on the wing.

Payne looks a prospect. He played well in the opening rounds but this is his rookie Super 14 season and it would be a major ask to step up another level so soon.

* Wayne Smith will operate as the All Black kicking coach during the June tests and some of the Tri Nations as Mick Byrne will be working with the Japanese national team.

Byrne, recognised as one of the world's leading kicking coaches, will remain contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union while in Japan.

His role with the Cherry Blossoms will go beyond just kicking and specialist skills and he will effectively be assistant to head coach, former All Black John Kirwan.