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Home / Sport / Rugby / All Blacks

Wynne Gray: Plenty of options for right wing test spot

Wynne Gray
By Wynne Gray
NZ Herald·
15 Mar, 2015 04:00 PM3 mins to read

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Julian Savea of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

Julian Savea of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

Wynne Gray
Opinion by Wynne GrayLearn more

Julian Savea is a concrete All Black choice on the left wing.

He reinforced those credentials delivering all sorts of havoc against the "we're on the verge of coming right" Blues.

The selection verdict on the other side of the field is nowhere as certain with half a dozen players in the hunt for the No14 jersey.

The raw pace and sideline-stepping skill of Waisake Naholo for the Highlanders will encourage more Blues reject stories alongside the blurred tales about Malakai Fekitoa's southern defection.

Naholo's mate Patrick Osborne is also pounding out his claims and he has been part of the wider national training squad.

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It could be that other Highlander, the Emperor of the Air, Ben Smith, although with every match he seems to add another layer of pick-me ticks to be used as the national fullback.

Charles Piutau was the last to play on the right flank for the All Blacks, against Wales. While he is being used by the Blues as a centre to develop something out of the mish-mash who play behind a committed pack of forwards, his range of skills are an ideal test package on the wing.

Colin Slade had a crack in that role against Scotland and while his pace, rugby smarts and goal-kicking allow him to adapt, he does have stronger claims to connect to the five-eighths or fullback duties.

We know about Smith, who is an ultra-reliable whether he plays at fullback or on that right flank as he did against England.

Then there is Cory Jane, who missed the Canes' stutter-stomp on the Blues and was the All Black incumbent until a hamstring injury took him out of the last tour. Three others have worn the black uniform on the right wing since the last World Cup. However Zac Guildford is overseas, Hosea Gear has just returned to pitch for another job and Frank Halai is battling for form.

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Ideas that Robbie Fruean might transform his game have been gazumped once more by injury as fellow prospect Jonny McNicholl has gone the same way, however there are others battering at the selection door.

James Lowe usually plays on the left flank, where his pace, energy and massive boot offer the Chiefs full value in their interactive plans to challenge for another Super Rugby title.

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In Canes country when Jane is rested, they have Matt Proctor to use his gas and guile and you'd bet lively new fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder would also be a star turn on the wing. He has a sevens background and his skills suggest he could, like Piutau, interchange to make a superb wing as well.

As for the best halfback to sit in behind Aaron Smith? Someone, anyone, please, give us something to appease that anxiety.

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