Question marks over this All Blacks side

BY MARC HINTON IN DUNEDIN

OPINION: It is what it is. That's an expression that gets bandied about a bit these days, but it sums up the All Blacks perfectly as they -- apparently nervously -- prepare for their opening test of the year.

On the surface it's an All Blacks team that doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Gee that's not a loose trio you thought you'd see any time soon in the black jersey. Just 13 caps between them, we are about to find out any day now whether Liam Messam, Kieran Read and Adam Thomson have the good stuff.

And right throughout there are question marks.

Isaac Ross debuts in the second row alongside old stager Brad Thorn, and it's a great unknown whether that unrestrained athleticism, enthusiasm and skill-level will translate from Super 14 to test level.

I hope so, for this is a young man who could really make watching test rugby fun again if he gets to bring his brand of high-energy play to the test arena. But, same as the loosies, we just don't know.

Up front it's a little more settled, but even then there's an element of the unknown. Tony Woodcock had an unsettled Super 14 and has apparently only just recovered from his viral ear infection. Neemia Tialata didn't exactly set the world on fire for the Canes. Can these hard men rise to the occasion on Saturday night?

And so it goes on. Stephen Donald gets just his third test start in the pivot, Isaia Toeava is the third-choice No 13 and Rudi Wulf partners Joe Rokocoko in a wing tandem that was not exactly smoke on the Super 14 water.

And even on the bench there's been an almost unholy haste in bringing Luke McAlister back. If one didn't know better, one could presume an element of panic at play.

But here's the thing we have to remember.

It's not as if Graham Henry had a hell of a lot of choice in the matter.

Here's who he doesn't have available this week: Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Rodney So'oialo, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Ali Williams, Brendon Leonard and Jerome Kaino.

That's a massive amount of nous, experience and skill to replace. It's hard to think how he might have done so any better, or more efficiently, than he has.

It is what it is.

The Thomson selection at No 7 might raise a few eyebrows. Especially with Henry confirming him as the preferred choice as McCaw's understudy and the man they want to groom for that role.

I didn't think Thomson showed too much in his sporadic outings on the openside last year, though clearly he had another spectacular Super 14 for the Highlanders this year. Just not at No 7.

The All Blacks coaches believe he has the qualities to be a test No 7, and they believe he's worked hard at adding some of those attributes since last year. Me? Like the David Bain thing, I'm just not sure.

Don't get make wrong I love the guy as a player. He's hard, aggressive, talented, can run like the wind and likes a turnover when he sees one. It's just that it's a big ask to suddenly be a test openside when you've been filling another role all year.

The loose combination actually excites me, more than scares me. I've long been a Messam fan, and the workrate of Read is beyond reproach. Together this is a skilful triumvirate who could just have themselves some fun if they can put their nerves aside on Saturday night.

Thomson's elevation was probably the big talking point out of today's press conference, with Henry and forwards coach Steve Hansen explaining their selections.

It was interesting to hear them confirm he was always ranked ahead of Tanerau Latimer on the No 7 pecking order, and also that he'd been sent away from last November's tour told he needed to work on his "character" among other things.

Hansen wouldn't elaborate on that, but we all know that Thomson was perhaps a bit too laidback for the liking of the conservative management group. Apparently he's addressed those issues.

There was also talk about those young locks Ross and reserve Bryn Evans, with the coaches confident they could transfer their nervous energy to something positive on Saturday night. Evans, in particular, has come a long way after being just a backup lock with the Canes.

The Ice Man also got some warm treatment, with Henry shaking off Isaia Toeava's 'Mr Fixit' tag to label his fill-in midfielder 'Mr Gold'.

Henry, and Wayne Smith, have long been enamoured of Toeava's skills, and Henry took that a stage further today when waxing lyrical about a guy who is becoming increasingly valuable in this squad, if only for his ability to slot in wherever he's needed.

There was also a frank admission from the All Blacks coaches that they're a little apprehensive about this match and that the French might be just a little excited that they're perhaps facing a "vulnerable" New Zealand outfit.

If there's one aspect of the All Blacks squad that might convince the French that their hosts are in a somewhat agitated state, then surely it's the selection of McAlister on the bench.

The guy hadn't played before Saturday night's Baabaas hit and giggle at the SFS for three and a-half months. On the strength of that, and his pedigree, he's been rushed in from the purgatory of northern hemisphere straight into test duty at the Brook.

And the carefully conceived plan to ease him back via the Junior All Blacks has been turned on its head.

This smells of panic to me. Sure, Luke's could be a calm head in the storm. But what message does it send out when he's rushed in while Anthony Tuitavake, who's played all Super 14 (and played well) misses out?

The French should sense some blood in the water. It only remains to be seen whether they're good enough to go for the kill.

 

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