Charles Piutau injury gives trio chance for ABs
LIAM NAPIER
Last updated 05:04 11/05/2014
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MATT KING/ Getty
FIRST FIVE: Colin Slade.
All Blacks
A cruel injury blow to Blues fullback Charles Piutau appears to have crushed his chances of taking on England next month.
Before limping out of Friday's 32-20 loss to the Chiefs, Piutau was a certainty to be named in the All Blacks wider 35-man training squad tomorrow.
Naturally, Piutau cut a dejected figure after receiving news that a grade two medial ligament knee injury will sideline him between six and eight weeks. That prognosis means he won't make the cut when the squad is trimmed to 31 players on June 1st for three tests against England.
The 22-year-old was a star rookie for the All Blacks last year, playing 10 tests and forging a reputation as a dynamic runner. His temporary exit is thought to have confirmed Colin Slade's recall, opened the possibility of a lifeline for Blues wing Frank Halai, or a shock call-up for Hurricanes utility Matt Proctor.
Slade's strong recent form and ability to provide outside back cover should now see him included. The Crusaders pivot has played just one test - off the bench against Australia in Wellington last year - since limping out of the World Cup quarterfinal in 2011.
Tongan-born Halai made his test debut against Japan last year but hasn't kicked on this season. Piutau's late withdrawal may offer him a reprieve, though the selectors could take a punt on
Proctor. Despite gaining minimal game-time behind fullback Andre Taylor, the 21-year-old is understood to have caught the attention of those that matter.
In Piutau's absence an embarrassment of riches remains in the back-three. Barring further injury scares, Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Julian Savea and Cory Jane will all return.
Elsewhere, hooker and lock will generate major talking points.
In a bid to develop depth after Andrew Hore's retirement, Keven Mealamu and Dane Coles could be joined by two additional hookers at three-day camps, which will be held in Christchurch (May 18th-20) and Wellington (25th -27). Coles' place is subject to fitness after he tweaked his back in the Hurricanes 25-15 win over the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night.
Highlanders' rake Liam Coltman and the Chiefs' Nathan Harris are the newbies in line after taking part in the All Blacks apprentice scheme last year. Both would benefit from attending the camps to grasp this year's game-plan.
Taranaki's Rhys Marshall needs to improve his throwing before being considered, while Canterbury veteran Corey Flynn is also in the frame for England's challenge, but is unlikely to be named tomorrow.
Blues bolter Patrick Tuipulotu will also grab interest. The 21-year-old, who tips the scales at 121kg and stands just under two metres, has major upside. After five tests last year, the selectors probably feel they have a gauge on Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush. Grooming Tuipulotu - alongside Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano and Dominic Bird - appears the better option.
Comparatively, Malakai Fekitoa's inclusion has been well flagged.
Possessing a lethal mix of power, pace and vision, the Highlanders centre is near-certain to be Super Rugby rookie of the year. His inevitable All Blacks debut will be a heart-warming tale of triumph over adversity, following a crippling childhood injury and the death of his father.
Jerome Kaino's return to the All Blacks after two years in Japan will come as no surprise. The bruising blindside flanker has lost none of the intimidating physical attributes that saw him recognised as one of the world's best players in 2011.
Kaino's team-mate, Steven Luatua, is expected to be retained, despite battling a form slump, alongside Richie McCaw, Sam Cane, Liam Messam and Kieran Read, who is recovering from concussion.
Highly-rated Chiefs halfback Augustine Pulu needs an operation on his injured knee. That makes the retention of Aaron Smith, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and TJ Perenara relatively straight forward, though Cantabrians will feel aggrieved at Andy Ellis' continued exclusion.
Aaron Cruden's return from a broken thumb in the coming weeks and will see him contest the first five-eighth role with Beauden Barrett while Dan Carter is on sabbatical.
Francis Saili's high ankle sprain saved the selectors a potentially difficult conversation. The Blues midfielder is out for at least six weeks,
and Tom Taylor is also likely to be overlooked, which leaves Fekitoa challenging incumbents Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Ryan Crotty.
Joe Moody's ongoing problems with an ankle injury ruled him out
and Hurricanes prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen hasn't done enough to force his way past the established Tony Woodcock, Owen and Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina or Wyatt Crockett.
Luke Braid-Whitelock has been deemed "absolutely unselectable" and "so far off the selectors radar it's just not bloody funny" and "not even a proper fuckin' Whitelock at all, the silly bastard has just changed his name by deed poll like some sort of a long-lost brother from another mutha."
"Still here. Hello? How's things? Ya f**kin pricks."
--Luke Whitelock-Braid-Whitelock-Whitelock.
