Rugby: Slow and steady now path for young stars

New Zealand under-20 lock Brodie Retallick. Photo / Getty Images

The days of under-20s heroes being fast-tracked into the All Blacks are probably gone - even though they are world-beaters.

There is growing awareness that the age-grade tournament is a major step down on even Super Rugby. The young heroes will be monitored, analysed and supported but it will most likely be some time before any are seriously considered as All Blacks.

In recent years, a handful of young stars have jumped quickly from the national junior ranks to the national senior ranks. Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino and Luke McAlister were selected as All Blacks within 12 months of starring for the national age grade teams.

Isaia Toeava was even quicker. Playing for the under-19s in June 2005, he made his test debut in November that year. Aaron Cruden was another quick riser - named IRB Junior Player of the Year in June 2009, he made his All Black debut in June 2010.

With the exception of Rokocoko, whose best year in test football was probably his first in 2003, those promoted quickly have struggled. Toeava was well out of his depth when he was first selected for the All Blacks. He struggled in 2006 and really, it was only by 2008 and 2009 that he looked like he believed he should be there.

Kaino toured with the All Blacks in 2004 six months after being named as the Under 21 IRB Player of the Year. He was taken on that tour for the experience, only playing the non-test against the Barbarians.

A promising athlete with obvious potential, he didn't cement an All Black place until 2009 and it was only really last year that he started to be talked about as world class.

Cruden best illustrates the gulf. He looked a class act when he captained the under-20s to victory in 2009 and impressed again when he played for Manawatu. But, as the country knows, under the full glare of public examination in his one test start last year, he was exposed as not ready.

His kicking game wasn't strong enough; his defence not quite robust enough; the increased physicality and pace of test rugby obviously rattled him.

Cruden, with two Super Rugby seasons under his belt now, is only just beginning to develop the full range of skills required to shine.

Former New Zealand under-21 coach and current Blues assistant, Bryce Woodward, believes the hardest part of the transition from age-grade rugby to Super Rugby and higher, is the increased physicality.

"When I was coach of the under-21 team, I always felt that the intensity of the semifinal and final were about the same as you would find in a good ITM Cup game.

The physicality was about at that level. What I really noticed was the difference between the under-21s and the under-19s back then. In the latter, the athletes were really still boys whereas in the former many had matured into young men. Super Rugby is a big step up physically."

The Blues were happy to contract Gareth Anscombe before he starred for the under-20s as he had already played a full campaign for Auckland in 2010. Other players from the recent under-20 side are also likely to make Super Rugby next year if they can impress during the ITM Cup.

Loose forwards Luke Whitelock and Sam Cane have been shortlisted for the IRB Junior Player of the Year award and should be offered full contracts next year with the Crusaders and Chiefs respectively.

Brodie Retallick, the Hawke's Bay lock, has possibly the most potential and a solid campaign with the Magpies should see him picked up by the Chiefs. But it will be a few years yet before any of them are seriously considered for test football.

As Luke Braid, another junior star, has shown this year, it takes two or even three seasons for most forwards to become conditioned to the physicality of the professional game.