The All Blacks hopefuls facing nervous wait during playoffs: Elliott Smith’s Tight Five

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, with (from left) Wallace Sititi, Quinn Tupaea, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Fabian Holland. Photos / Photosport

• Some All Blacks hopefuls’ chances ended with their teams missing the Super Rugby playoffs.
• The playoffs provide a crucial opportunity for selectors to assess players in high-pressure scenarios.
• Fabian Holland and Timoci Tavatavanawai face uncertainty, while others can still impress selectors.

An observation

For some All Blacks hopefuls, their prospects could have ended last weekend by virtue of their teams missing the playoffs. It’s probably a very small number, given the Highlanders are a young group and with not many contenders, while Moana Pasifika will contribute only Ardie Savea, but the chance for players on the fringes to impress is over and it could well be a case of out of sight, out of mind.

The Super Rugby playoff format may again be derided, but it gives the national coaches and selectors a chance to view players in pressure scenarios over three straight weeks.

An explanation

There might not be enough of a window for players to come from nowhere to make the cut, but the playoffs will crystallise the selections for Scott Robertson and co as they nail down the 35-man squad to face France.

It’s such an advantage the deeper your side goes in the playoffs, with a chance to show how you play in a pressure game and whether your skillset can remain whole or even expand as the big moments happen. Of course, the opposite can happen – and you can play your way out of the mix.

A prediction

That’s why Fabian Holland and Timoci Tavatavanawai, two players in the All Blacks mix, face a nervous wait as the finals play out. Neither is a certainty to make the squad and there’s little they can do over the next three weeks as Josh Lord gets his chance to impress for the Chiefs, while Braydon Ennor and Quinn Tupaea (assuming he can return from an eye injury) – feasibly in a shootout with Tavatavanawai – will be front and centre.

A try here, a line-break there, a try-saving tackle, whatever it might be, special plays in the finals mean more to All Blacks selectors.

A suggestion

There’s recent precedent for the playoffs helping to clear up tight selections for the All Blacks coaches, with Wallace Sititi’s wrecking-ball performance against the Hurricanes in last year’s semifinal for the Chiefs helping to earn him a spot.

Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu had a line drawn through their names as the Blues pack was torn to shreds by the Crusaders the previous season, with then All Blacks coach Ian Foster admitting their performances that night had made up the selectors’ minds.

Wallace Sititi caught the eye of selectors in last season's semifinal against the Hurricanes. Photo / Photosport

A question

Who can rule the big moments?

Even indirectly, there can be comparisons drawn between the players in the mix as to the influence they wield in the last three weeks. Du’Plessis Kirifi may not get a chance to go head to head with Dalton Papali’i in the playoffs, but the chance to show that the former can handle it when the heat is turned up and keep his discipline – a major improvement in his game this year – could prove vital come June 23. Papali’i has an All Blacks jersey to protect after missing last year’s end-of-year tour through injury and was seemingly on the outer before then anyway.

The All Blacks were found lacking last year in closing out big fixtures, twice in South Africa and against France in Paris – three games they could have won. The Super Rugby playoffs are not test rugby, but they have a big say in who gets there.