Rugby: The New Zealand XV

Isaia Toeava has been a standout for the Blues throughout the season. Photo / Getty Images

Wynne Gray names his ideal opening squad ahead of the All Blacks panel's selection, to be announced after the Super 14 final.

Forget their pedigree, ignore their reputation, just pick the players who have been the best performers this season in the Super 14.

Those instructions seemed pretty straightforward until the task started. How many games were enough for someone to be considered and how do you compare backs when their forwards delivered a very different quality of possession?

Welcome to the world of the selectors. But not that of the All Blacks panel, because they will use a different blend of evidence, historical data, experience, skill, team dynamics and combinations when they announce their opening squad after the Super 14 final.

Clearly Richie McCaw is the premier openside flanker in this country, if not the globe, even if his appearances this season have been intermittent because of a knee injury and a couple of whacks to the head.

So we will use that damage as an excuse to overlook McCaw for this selection, while others such as Ali Williams and Anthony Boric are similarly ignored because of their injuries and Leon MacDonald because he is heading overseas.

So here we go on that slippery selection slope, skating into the sort of arguments which bedevil the All Blacks panel when they venture into the court of public opinion.

Israel Dagg has been a Highlanders jewel at fullback but he is yet to match the consistent calibre of Mils Muliaina in this competition, so it is the Chiefs man for custodian.

Sitiveni Sivivatu has been mercurial while the other wing contenders, such as Hosea Gear, Lelia Masaga, Joe Rokocoko, Rudi Wulf and Zac Guildford have all had their moments when not injured. Not enough of them, though.

Blues winger Rene Ranger has been part-time, too, because of injury and judicial matters but he has shown a real zing about his play and a work rate too which has caught the eye.

The old firm of Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu have controlled the tempo and direction for the Hurricanes in midfield while Isaia Toeava has been a standout for the Blues throughout the season and the backline. We want all-out clout, so Nonu and Toeava get the gig.

There are no challengers to the Chiefs combo at halfback and five-eighths of Brendon Leonard and Stephen Donald.

Every other side has struggled at first five-eighths as Donald's form and consistency has risen steadily, while Leonard has been a fireball in his return to action this year. Too often damaged for the mental health of the All Black selectors, he's still having a cracking season ahead of a swag of challengers.

For sheer grit and rumble, Thomas Waldrom claims the No8 spot.

He is not as damaging as Sione Lauaki or as perpetual as Rodney So'oialo but he has delivered throughout the season in his switch to the Crusaders.

The brotherly chain continues with the speedy, skilful Scott Waldrom claiming the openside role, He has not moved from the Hurricanes but has increased his skill range since his All Black tour last year.

Adam Thomson nudges out Liam Messam for our blindside berth. The woolly speedster has been a standout for the Highlanders, with a much more effective presence at the breakdown and better defensive clout, while his speed, ball skills and support play have been first rate.

Brad Thorn is the senior lock, the engine in the scrum, front of the lineout jumper, the workhorse round the field and the ticker which exemplifies the Crusaders.

His locking companion will be teammate Isaac Ross. Ross is still raw and under-used (or under-trusted) at the lineout, but he has a vitality, energy, enthusiasm and edge which used to underpin contributions from Jason Eaton and Ali Williams.

Tom Donnelly has pushed hard and would be a safer choice because of his experience, while Kevin O'Neill is also a great Trojan without suggesting he has that little bit of extra panache.

John Afoa and Tony Woodcock have been beacons, outside their injuries, for the Blues and will prop up Aled de Malmanche at hooker.

De Malmanche is raw, powerful and edgy with a mixed lineout throw but he has some of the potential another young hooker showed before the opening World Cup in 1987.

Wynne Gray's "Super 14 All Blacks":

Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Thomas Waldrom, Scott Waldrom, Adam Thomson, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Aled de Malmanche, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves:

Israel Dagg, Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu, Liam Messam, Tom Donnelly, Clint Newland, Andrew Hore.