Rugby: Five tipped to thrive

James King is a skilful lock who just needs to bulk up. Photo / Getty Images

A number of young players have emerged during this year's Air NZ Cup. Gregor Paul looks at five potential wild card Super 14 selections.

1) James King (North Harbour)

The All Black selectors have a clear idea what they want from their locks these days. First and foremost, they have to have aerial expertise.

Can they win lineout ball? King can tick that box. Are they accurate and confident with kick receipts? Another tick for King. Do they hit rucks, make their presence felt at the cleanout? King just about ticks the box here.

His attitude and body position are spot on - it's just that at 107kg, he's a bit light. A summer in the gym will help him add the necessary bulk he'll need to shift bodies at the next level.

Can he scrummage? Again, King has that desire but not the frame. And, as well as those core skills, can he get around the field? Can he make contribution elsewhere? That's a definite tick for King.

The 22-year-old North Harbour lock has been the shining light in the Harbour pack this year. His mobility is impressive - he's certainly as rangy and quick as Isaac Ross and his skills with the ball in hand are as good as most outside backs.

The 2m tall King has the potential to be an All Black. If he can find another 6kg and retain his mobility and aerial athleticism, then he will be perfectly equipped for the modern game.

The indication is that the Blues haven't found room for him in their protected 24.

If he goes into the draft, the Highlanders are short of specialists behind Tom Donnelly and Hayden Triggs, while the Chiefs, too, are short of tight forwards.

If King misses out altogether, the system will have failed.

2) Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato)

Look around the country and there is not much to be excited by when it comes to halfbacks.

There is Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard and Piri Weepu, who are all test class, all imminently capable, but all lacking a little bit of something extra. Behind them there is not much. Andy Ellis is okay and Alby Mathewson has a bit of spark.

Tawera Kerr-Barlow, in one 80-minute shift last month against Auckland, showed that he is the most exciting halfback prospect in years.

The Australian-born and raised Kerr-Barlow was a livewire. His passing was crisp, his tackling sure and his strength incredible. There was one outrageously good reverse pass after he broke from a scrum that showed he not only had flair and vision but also the confidence to try things.

If he had stayed in Australia, they would already have him signed to a Super Rugby side with a clear message he was there to play, to earn a starting spot.

Unfortunately, because he's still aged only 19, the New Zealand Rugby Union will be determined to break him in slowly, to keep him away from the big boys in case his confidence is dented.

When Waikato coach Chris Gibbes was asked about Kerr-Barlow's Super 14 prospects, he said: "He's a young kid with a very, very bright future, so I guess we'll see."

There is no question he is raw. He will make mistakes while he's learning his craft but surely it's better to have him learning that craft next season rather than arbitrarily asking him to wait while someone with half his talent is given a chance just because they are older.

The Chiefs used Toby Morland as their back-up last year but he's now in Wales.

They will need cover for Leonard and the options would appear to be Chris Smylie or Taniela Moa - one of whom will miss out with the Blues to accommodate Mathewson - or Kerr-Barlow.

3) Andre Taylor (Manawatu)

In this new age world of kick and catch, Andre Taylor is exactly the sort of wing-fullback needed. He has raw pace, is brave and makes good decisions about when to run and when to kick.

He is a footballer - a young man who could probably wear any jersey in the backline and come out of it looking good. The depth of his skill-set was shown in Manawatu's final game, when he fielded a loose kick and slotted a beautifully struck goal from 40 metres.

Taylor is not the muscle-loaded, power winger that came into vogue at the start of the professional era. At 85kg, the 21-year-old is a slip of a thing. He could stand some physical development but has shown himself capable of putting men down at his current weight.

His selection at Super 14 will be dependent on the franchise coaches appreciating that the days of the strike-running wing are over. Taylor is the kind of player needed to win games in South Africa and the back half of the competition when the weather packs up and the high ball is more readily used.

4) Tim Nanai-Williams (Counties Manukau)

Another of the slightly built but traditionally skilled brigade to emerge strongly this season.

The 20-year-old Counties Manukau fullback has shown up well in a side that struggled. His main selling card is his accurate goal-kicking, followed by his ability to play across the backline.

Counties Manukau coach Milton Haig says there has been strong interest in Nanai-Williams and that he should end up somewhere.

"We are definitely hopeful for him," says Haig of Nanai-Williams. "He's one of the players we know is being looked at and if he doesn't end up with the Chiefs, he'll be in the draft.

"He's played sevens for New Zealand; he's got a good kicking game and was one of the best counter-attackers in the provincial competition.

"He fits all the criteria and he can also play at first five in the midfield, so would be a good player to have on the bench."

5) Andrew Horrell (Hawke's Bay)

It's hardly a secret that first fives are a bit thin on the ground. Andrew Horrell did enough on limited outings to earn a chance to carry on with a Super 14 side.

He has a bit of X-factor about him - that enviable ability to see holes and exploit them. In his first start against Waikato, he scored a spectacular solo try and ran the game well - showing a tactical awareness that belied his inexperience.

Horrell was on loan from Canterbury and that alone should have the interest brewing - when it comes to first fives, Canterbury are head and shoulders above everyone else on the development front.

Andrew Mehrtens, Aaron Mauger, Dan Carter, Stephen Brett and Colin Slade proves that beyond doubt.

Hawke's Bay were comfortable using Horrell on the wing once Matt Berquist recovered from injury. He has the pace, the elusive running and kicking game to be an asset to any squad.