By WYNNE GRAY
In 1990, Olo Brown started his All Black career with a game in France, while five years later, Todd Blackadder, Justin Marshall, Taine Randell and Carlos Spencer first donned the black jersey in France.
Those tours to France were not just fleeting trips, such as the All Blacks' whistlestop
visit to France and Italy in November. They offered the chance to blood some promising talent.
The brief sortie this year does not promise such selection luxury, though if New Zealand Rugby Football Union plans come to fruition, there may be a chance to dovetail some players because of a parallel New Zealand A tour to Europe.
After the coup in Fiji, several New Zealand A games were abandoned as the NZRFU looked for a replacement end-of-year trip.
That idea is still being pursued, but could not be announced yesterday at the same time as the All Blacks' schedule.
Their trip comprises twin tests in France, on November 11 and 18 at Paris and Marseilles, and a test against Italy at Genoa on November 25.
In a nice touch, the New Zealand and French unions have agreed to play the Paris test for the Dave Gallaher Cup in honour of the forward who captained the All Blacks in their first test against France and later died in the First World War.
A New Zealand Selection will play a French Selection on November 7 at Lens, which hints at some strong New Zealand A component, because coach Wayne Smith would not want his top line-up involved when the first All Black test is four days later.
It also suggests the All Black test squad will need a warm-up game as well. The Herald understands venues being considered are in Japan, Ireland or Holland.
Unless injury or a dramatic fall-off in form occurs, it is hard to see the national selectors going outside their present squad for what, in effect, would be a three-test trip to Europe.
Backs such as Leon MacDonald and Doug Howlett have had little test involvement and No 8 Filo Tiatia was a temporary replacement, so they may be most at risk.
Certainly, the work of fullbacks such as Adrian Cashmore and Ben Blair will be monitored heavily in comparison to the production from MacDonald.
If the All Blacks take 30 players to France and Italy, the expansion may only provide room for some like Spencer, Daryl Gibson, Royce Willis, Caleb Ralph, Rhys Duggan or Greg Feek, who have been All Blacks before. A couple must have been very close to selection for the group who have been involved in the six tests so far.
But what about the new breed, guys who would continue the style which has evolved this year with the All Blacks who left yesterday for their final Tri-Nations assignment in South Africa?
Players such as Canterbury lock Chris Jack, Counties Manukau flanker Koula Tukino or Waikato midfielder Mark Ranby.
Their best hope may be a New Zealand A tour and those targets should give some real bite to the next selection stage which began when the NPC started last night.
The progress of many quality players will be examined, but what about these players, all of who have yet to play for the All Blacks but could be pushing hard, certainly for New Zealand A recognition in late October: fullback, Ben Blair; wings, Roger Randle, Neil Brew; centres, Jason O'Halloran, Mark Ranby; five-eighths, Mark Urwin; halfback, Ben Hurst; No 8, Paul Miller; flankers, Justin Collins, Koula Tukino; locks, Chris Jack and Dion Waller; props, Carl Hayman and Paul Thomson, hooker, Davin Heaps.
By WYNNE GRAY
In 1990, Olo Brown started his All Black career with a game in France, while five years later, Todd Blackadder, Justin Marshall, Taine Randell and Carlos Spencer first donned the black jersey in France.
Those tours to France were not just fleeting trips, such as the All Blacks' whistlestop
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