Wynne Gray: Plenty of fullback options for ABs

Colin Slade. File photo / Mark Mitchell

Mils Muliaina wore the All Black jersey with distinction before he fell to injury in the World Cup and disappeared overseas after 100 tests.

The fullback and senior lock Brad Thorn are the two frontline absentees this season as All Black coach Steve Hansen and offsider Ian Foster begin to examine the talent for the start of the June test programme.

There are a few fullback choices. The promising Israel Dagg has been used in that role with some distinction and Isaia Toeava has also suited up on occasions during his 36-test career. The pair met last night at Eden Park as the Blues hosted the Crusaders, although the visitors started the versatile Dagg on the wing to help accommodate Tom Marshall at fullback.

In Hamilton tonight, Robbie Robinson will begin at fullback for the Chiefs while the Highlanders have picked Ben Smith in that role. He was a surprise pick on the All Blacks' tour to Europe in 2009 and made his solitary test start on the wing while he repeated that last year as a substitute against Fiji at Carisbrook.

The Hurricanes have decided to start with Andre Taylor at fullback for their opening match tomorrow against the Stormers in Cape Town.

Peer into the crystal ball and other faces drift into shadowy focus - men like Cory Jane, who has slipped into some wing duties at the start of this season, and others like Rudi Wulf, Sean Maitland, Kurt Baker and Tim Nanai-Williams who double up duties for their teams.

At a pinch you suspect Colin Slade also has the pace and skill to shuffle back from his preferred five-eighths position or to come off the bench to deputise at fullback.

You've got to think that Dagg will move to fullback for the Crusaders at some stage as long as that switch suits the collective plans and his frame holds up. He needs to stitch tactical kicking skills and organisation to round out his game and prove his body is set for test rugby.

Dagg is just 23, has played 12 tests and smelled rugby at its most intense in the World Cup semifinal against the Wallabies and the gripping final against France. His unruffled temperament has been a constantly strong thread as he works his way through the initial years of what should be a lengthy test career.

If Toeava can repeat the form he brought at the start of last season and stay clear of the hip problems that hamper him, he should also be in the frontline. He has been with the All Blacks since his shock elevation in 2005 and perhaps in the past two years showed his pedigree and was at last appearing consistently.

He has stacked on some size, kept his speed and maintained his destructive counterattack while adding a powerfully accurate kicking game and the sort of backfield vision and voice which are essential parts of the modern fullback's armoury.

Dagg and Toeava must be favoured now but if Hansen, who likes to uncork some intriguing choices, settles on a wildcard he might consider someone like Tamati Ellison or Beauden Barrett as fullbacks in waiting.