Rugby: Young first-fives coming through ranks

Aaron Cruden of Manawatu kicks a penalty goal during the Air New Zealand Cup match between Auckland and Manawatu. Photo / Getty Images

It's among the favourite pastimes of rugby nuts. Picking teams, who should be in the All Blacks; who should get the archer.

And when people start talking about World Cups, things can get really wonky as names come out of unusual places.

The Air New Zealand Cup is under way, the first round producing 26 tries in the seven games. There was a generally approving tone in rugbyville. Much of it was entertaining and of course it threw up players to catch the eye.

Consider three first five-eighths: Robbie Robinson, Aaron Cruden and Daniel Bowden.

Robinson steered Southland with a good head, kicked important goals and led them to a 16-6 win over Waikato at Invercargill.

Cruden ran the Manawatu operation, helping set up a thrilling second half recovery to oversee a 36-31 win over Counties-Manukau.

And Bowden? A different ending, but the class act in an Auckland side overrun by boisterous Hawkes Bay.

Throughout the championship, names are going to come and go as players suffer peaks and troughs. Some names will recur, however, constantly getting positive feedback in dispatches.

There's a strong likelihood those three will be among them.

Robinson and Cruden were teammates in the world championship-winning New Zealand under-20 team in Japan in June, Robinson at fullback - probably his better position - and Cruden captain, No10 and recipient of the world player of the year award.

Robinson first. He is the youngest of the three, at 19, and was due to start at fullback against Waikato until James Wilson damaged a hamstring two days before the match.

Robinson looked sharp, with an eye for a gap, a decent turn of pace and strong kicking game. Southland co-coach Simon Culhane likes what he sees. The former All Black first five-eighth reckons fullback is where he'll really shine but felt a stint at No 10 would help round out his game.

"He's got genuine pace. At the under-20 championship it was there for all the world to see how quick he was," Culhane said. "We know he's young and he's going to make the odd mistake, but being 19 he's going to learn from them, isn't he, and that's going to make him a better player in the future."

Cruden, who scored two tries in the world final, won 44-28 over England, has received high praise from both New Zealand under-20 coach Dave Rennie - coincidentally his boss at Manawatu - and All Black coach Graham Henry.

He is a neat, incisive runner and good organiser. Cruden lost one testicle to cancer and battled through nine weeks of chemotherapy last year.

"He's a very determined young man," Rennie said of that time, which is a bit like saying the Pope is keen on a spot of prayer.

The 20-year-old has a big responsibility this season, as Manawatu battle to maintain their championship place, with four teams to be culled. But the signs are he's cut from the right material for that job.

Bowden is a slightly different case. At 24, he's got the edge in age, and he's been round a bit, doing time with Northland and the Highlanders before returning to home base.

Again, he's got good skills, sharp pace and kicks well.

He tends not to compare himself with others doing his job, preferring to focus on his job within the team framework. He appreciates there is always room for improvement.

"I think I played reasonably well in patches," Bowden said of his effort in a solidly-beaten side last Saturday. "I've got to work on my general field kicking and a few other things, but I'm happy with the way my running game is operating. As long as I keep improving my strengths as well as my weaknesses, which often gets overlooked, it should hold me in good stead."

Spending time in Whangarei and Dunedin helped develop his character, "and playing for other teams was quite challenging at times, so you've got to learn how to cope with different situations. It made me quite rounded, to be honest".

All three should be in their prime in 2015, but what about 2011? At a time when the clamour is for new faces, might all three be in the frame to visit the Northern Hemisphere in black later this year? They'll need strong national championship campaigns for a start.

As for having an edge, it might be Cruden right now, if Henry's comments after the world championship are a gauge.

"He was fabulous I thought in the under-20s. He ran the ship well and he's obviously got a lot of character. He's the sort of guy, if he has a great Air New Zealand Cup, could be in consideration in the near future."