Rugby: Talent overload makes for tough backline choices

Mils Muliaina. Photo / Getty Images

Graham Henry loves experience, he loves Mils Muliaina - there's the kiss on national television to prove it. But nobody knows better than the fullback himself that the passing of the baton can come at the most inopportune moment.

The 94-test veteran made his All Black debut in 2003, slipping on to the wing to replace Joe Rokocoko in a test lost 13-15 to England. Muliaina started at fullback in the next test against Wales and made the position his own over the next eight years - aside from the odd notable exception.

But a slow, injury-plagued start to 2011, combined with the electrifying form of both Isaia Toeava and Israel Dagg, have some considering the previously unthinkable hypothesis: would the All Blacks be better with a change at the back?

Does the emergence - and re-emergence in the case of Zac Guildford and Ben Smith - of a crop of young outside backs, as well as the struggles of Sitiveni Sivivatu, Rokocoko and Cory Jane, signal an impending changing of the guard in jerseys 11, 14 and 15.

Everyone loves playing armchair selector when there's no pressure on your team to perform, and former All Black wing Stu Wilson is no different. His form back three would include Toeava, Rene Ranger and Sean Maitland.

"But they [the selectors] won't do that," Wilson said.

"Imagine if you stuck Mils out the back of the Crusaders or the Blues. How good would he look then?

"There's no question Isaia Toeava is the best fullback in the country at this point in time, but you know what Mils is like. He's played 94 tests and has he ever played a dud?

"You put him in a black jersey with 14 of the best players in the country around him and he'll be back to his brilliant best."

On the right side of the coin it's a pleasant conundrum for Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith to face. On the flip side, selection conundrums in World Cup years have not always been satisfactorily solved.

"They've stuffed it up a few times before," Wilson said, referring not only to this panel, but their predecessors too.

In terms of talent, they are spoiled for choice.

Most countries would love to be able select any one of Muliaina, Toeava, Dagg, Jane or Smith at fullback.

Broaden that to the wings and you can throw Hosea Gear, Ranger, Maitland, Sivivatu, Rokocoko and even Richard Kahui into the mix (and even that list can't find room for Kade Poki, one of the form wings of the year).

The run into the Super 15 playoffs and the finals rugby itself is when the selectors are really going to start taking notice, Wilson believes.

They'll watch to see how players such as Maitland, who has looked a million dollars so far, react when his team's season is on the line.

"When it comes to the Tri-Nations, they might look to play one or two guys that have had limited or no involvement in the All Blacks, but by and large they'll stick with who they know."

That's good news for guys who have done the business for Henry before, tougher for those trying desperately to make an impression before the biggest sporting show ever to hit these shores.

In all likelihood, the World Cup squad will contain three wings and two fullbacks - with the proviso that some of them may be able to cover multiple positions.

"I wouldn't want to be a selector then," Wilson said. "They're going to have to make some phone calls and deliver some very good players some very bad news."