Wynne Gray: Foreign lands call to those left out

Graham Henry. Photo / Getty Images

Not long ago an exasperated Graham Henry revealed his irritation about uncapped players taking up offshore contracts.

He was bemused they shelved their All Black dreams in favour of the substantial foreign moolah. How on earth could they do that, he pondered, having salted away his own offshore dosh, why would they disappear and not complete their rugby dreams.

Here's a few ideas Graham - how about $500,000 a year, a car, use of a house and the lifestyle in Europe.

Here's a few more. Tomorrow's All Black squad and Super 15 form.

Don't get me wrong. The All Black selectors pick the squad they feel is best suited for their next projects, in this case the Tri-Nations series leading into the World Cup.

The Wise Men have every imaginable statistic on every candidate in their laptops, they have watched how they work and operate under pressure, they have gauged how they interact with the rest of the squad. With all that info the All Black panel choose their best 30 men.

Some players who have yet to wear the famed black jersey will be desperately unlucky not to make the cut tomorrow. That's the way it is, that's the nature of sports selection.

At the same time those players who miss the cut should not be decried if they choose to take up overseas offers which reflect their current value.

Take someone like Blues centre Jared Payne. For all but the semifinal defeat to the Reds, he was in a special run of form. However with Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui as established All Black centres, Payne will probably miss the cut and remain an outside bet for the World Cup.

That ascension would only occur if other contenders suffer a grievous injury run.

Once his ITM Cup duties are done, Payne will skedaddle off to play for Ulster and collect his Irish loot on a three-year deal. All going well he is then eligible to play for the Paddys as he continues to cement his financial future.

Some in recent times like Josh Blackie, Thomas Waldrom and Jason Rutledge hung around but missed All Black recruitment. Others like Bruce Reihana, Regan King and Tamati Ellison played a test for the All Blacks then went offshore.

No doubt that inflated their incomes but they might think they would have been better off throwing their lot in with England, Wales or Japan and having lengthy international careers.

Perception comes into that thinking, something which tweaks my senses when evaluating Zac Guildford's work on the wing.

His high workrate and production have been very noticeable this season. He has made a coercive case for All Black selection redemption.