The All Blacks' 'nice' decision; who wears No13?

New Zealand All Blacks 2nd-five Ryan Crotty. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster today called it a "nice" decision, but it's also one of the selectors' toughest as the consider their match-day squad for the first test against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday - who will wear the No13 jersey, Anton Lienert-Brown or Ryan Crotty?

Lienert-Brown's performance alongside Sonny Bill Williams in the 78-0 thrashing of Manu Samoa last Friday was one of composure and skill, and it was impressive. The pair may have played together for the Chiefs in the distant past but they've never played a test in tandem and the combination they struck was encouraging.

But the 22-year-old probably only got his opportunity to start at centre due to Crusader Ryan Crotty's rib injury suffered in the thriller against the Highlanders in Christchurch at the start of the month.

Crotty's rehabilation time-frame always put him in the mix for the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday, but he has played no rugby since and the selectors will have to weigh up whether they feel he is ready for a challenge as physical as the Lions are promising.

Second-five Williams is a virtual certainty to start at No12, and with head coach Steve Hansen hinting that all three midfielders will be in the match-day 23, it is a matter of whether Crotty starts the match or is named in the reserves.

Lienert-Brown is the slightly bigger man and the selectors may feel that that extra bulk and match fitness could be helpful against a Lions team who will be sprinting off the line in defence and taking what will probably be a direct route on attack.

For backs coach Foster, the success of the Williams and Lienert-Brown axis against Manu Samoa was encouraging for several reasons.

"It was the first time they'd played together for I guess a long time," Foster said. That was pleasing, particularly I think for both players, who have had spells off during Super Rugby and perhaps haven't hit their top form.

"So to come in and gel the way they did was fantastic, and Ryan we know is a very smart rugby player and he's never let us down in whatever role we've given him so we've got some nice decisions there and the good thing is we're making decisions between players who we know will do a very good job."

Assuming the All Blacks selectors name Julian Savea on the left wing, and it would surprise if they didn't, the only other selection question mark hangs over the right wing: Israel Dagg or Waisake Naholo?

Dagg performed well against Manu Samoa in a test which, admittedly, was several levels below the intensity that Warren Gatland's men will bring.

Naholo sat the match out after his superb performance for the Highlanders against the Lions three nights earlier.

Do the selectors go for the relative solidity and high-ball expertise of Dagg, or the pace, power and X-factor of Naholo, who isn't bad under the high ball himself?

Naholo might get the nod for the stress he will cause the Lions' defence. The tackling from both teams is likely to be ferocious but the All Blacks will back their attack to gradually get the better of the tourists and they have few better weapons at their disposal than Naholo.