Rugby: Versatility keeps Piutau in frame

Charles Piutau's statistics are up there with the best in the competition. Photo / Brett Phibbs

One person who might have mixed feelings after Aaron Cruden's World Cup dream was almost certainly ended by a knee injury is Charles Piutau.

Piutau's place in the 31-man squad was said to be further in doubt following his decision to sign with Ulster rather than re-commit to New Zealand Rugby from next year, but then Colin Slade eased the pressure by deciding that he too wanted to play overseas, and now Cruden's ruptured left ACL has opened the door wider.

The All Blacks coaches want to take 17 forwards and 14 backs to defend their title in England and Wales in September. They will want three halfbacks and three first-fives, plus eight more players who can play in the midfield or further out.

Slade, who will have made it more difficult for the coaches to make an example of Piutau with his own decision to sign for Pau, will be taken as a first-five with a genuine chance to push for a starting place alongside Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett.

Slade is also an excellent fullback who can play on the wing, but with his figuring in the No 10 jersey becoming a priority, so Piutau's own ability to play wing, fullback, and possibly the midfield, becomes more important. He may yet fulfil his dream of playing against his brother, Siale, who plays for Tonga, at the global tournament.

Of the rest of the backs likely to be included, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Andy Ellis must be considered as front-runners for halfback, Malakai Fekitoa is a midfielder who could play on the wing, with Cory Jane and Ben Smith both comfortable wide out or at fullback. Israel Dagg, in good form for the Crusaders until a calf injury ruled him out of the recent defeat to the Chiefs, is considered a specialist fullback and consistent game-breaker Julian Savea a specialist left wing.

If he is included then it would be a just reward for the 23-year-old Piutau, who is the best-performing back the Blues have got this season.

That might not be much of a compliment given how poorly John Kirwan's attack has been performing, but Piutau's statistics are up there with the best in the competition, most notably in terms of defenders beaten where he is ranked third equal behind Damian de Allende of the Stormers and Waratahs fullback Israel Folau, and alongside in-form Highlanders wing Waisake Naholo.

Piutau is also fourth in terms of ball carries and fifth equal on metres made.

Given the disruption going on ahead of him at the Blues - the struggle to find a consistent halfback-first-five combination and a midfield which has included George Moala, Hamish Northcott, Francis Saili and Pita Ahki, Piutau's continuing good form in a team which has lost eight of their nine games is quite an achievement.

The statistics show Piutau is an explosive runner - and he could yet have the opportunity to show them on the biggest stage.