Inga Tuigamala: Stanley the answer to another fine mess

Ma'a Nonu's injury could open the door for bolter Benson Stanley. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

If you can't have a standout attacker, you might as well go for your best defender with a reasonable history in the position.BENSON STANLEY for second five-eighths - that's my shock pick for the All Blacks.

I'll be honest and say I have had to ponder long and hard over a replacement for Ma'a Nonu, who is out of the June tests because of a knee injury. There simply isn't one outstanding candidate to replace Nonu.

Problems, problems - this is a massive problem for the All Black bosses.

The three leading candidates, apparently, are Stephen Donald, Luke McAlister and Isaia Toeava.

You can forget about Donald, to my mind. He is a very marginal test choice in his proper position of first five-eighth and he's certainly not a test second-five.

Preferably, the All Blacks need a wonderful attacker with speed in that position, and that ain't Donald.

Furthermore he does not have any vast experience in the No12 jersey to fall back on - so that's his prospects taken care of.

I wouldn't contemplate McAlister, either. He just isn't the same player since returning from England, and his defence is highly suspect, which means he cannot be selected.

Of the three, Toeava would be my preference, but as I have said before, he is a much better wing prospect.

Toeava probably lacks the tactical nous for the midfield, whereas on the wing he can be let loose and allow his wonderful skills to come into play. Oh for the days of inside backs like Bill Osborne and John Schuster.

So, Aucklander Stanley is my choice. He's a strong, tough player who is a terrific defender. If you can't have a standout attacker, you might as well go for your best defender with a reasonable history in the position.

Second-five is a channel that teams love to attack through, and Stanley looks to me to be the best available option to plug that gap.

He is a mature character, even if he isn't vastly experienced as a rugby player. What I would love to see from the selectors is a tough, win-at-all-costs mentality for each test, without any fancy choices that are allegedly about the future. Injuries are backing us into a corner, and we need to put it all on the line and come out fighting.

On to the Super 14 semifinals.

I'm backing the Crusaders and Stormers to win.

Attitude not altitude is the key factor for the Bulls' clash against the mighty Crusaders in Soweto. The Crusaders are roaring and I really believe they will do the job.

I've believed all year that teams like the Bulls and Crusaders are tailor-made for this sort of hard-nosed rugby. They are two robust sides.

The venue and travel just doesn't come into it. This is all about attitude.

The Crusaders have pedigree and the Stormers will be far too strong for the Waratahs at home.