KEY POINTS:
Dual international Brad Thorn will add another twist to his remarkable sporting career when he is restored to the All Black squad next month.
The 33-year-old lock has been in such robust form for the Crusaders in his return to rugby that he has persuaded the New Zealand
Rugby Union to sign him to an extended contract.
That deal indicates he will be chosen in the All Black squad by the same selectors who chopped him after his solitary international season in the 2003 World Cup year.
Originally Thorn accepted a short-term arrangement for this year's Super 14 competition, hoping he could show enough form in his return to rugby to attract some clubs in Europe.
A number have been impressed and so too the All Black selectors who have been faced with dwindling locking resources because of the exit of Chris Jack, injury to Ross Filipo and the decisions of Keith Robinson and James Ryan to halt their careers.
Thorn and his Crusaders' partner Ali Williams have been the pick of the locks with the next tier of form coming from Jason Eaton, Tom Donnolly and Toby Lynn.
Thorn has shown few effects of his lengthy professional sporting life and has thrived at the Crusaders under the experimental laws. Filipo's neck injury allowed Thorn a chance to start regularly and he has formed a potent new alliance with Williams.
Since the turn of this century, Thorn has alternated his allegiance between Canterbury and the Crusaders in rugby and the Broncos league side in Australia.
He was selected for the All Blacks by John Mitchell in 2001 but turned down the approach because he was unsure where his sporting allegiance lay. Thorn confirmed that uncertainty by sitting out the next year but he was selected for the 2003 World Cup season when he played all of his 12 All Black tests.
At the end of the 2004 season he resumed at the Broncos and won a fourth NRL title.
After he opted to end his league career last year, it came as a surprise when Thorn agreed to have another crack at the Super 14. His superb conditioning and attitude has shone through for the Crusaders and he was again in the thick of the action last night against the Sharks.
Locking partner Williams transferred to Tasman because of disputes with Blues coach David Nucifora and became an automatic choice for the Crusaders.
Williams has a number of close mates in the Crusaders and has expressed admiration for the coaching of Robbie Deans and the franchise methods.
However his extended future there is not so clear because of Deans' exit and confirmation that Nucifora is finishing with the Blues. Williams would prefer not to commute as much as he does to Christchurch and is also reported to be impressed by the style of Pat Lam who is one of the leading candidates to succeed Nucifora.