These guys have got points to prove

The Hurricanes hold the answers to several major questions surrounding the 2008 All Blacks as key players like Jason Eaton, Piri Weepu, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith push their causes in the Super 14.

Lock, centre and halfback will be some of the more interesting puzzles facing Graham Henry and his selectors as they look to start the next phase of their rule.

Eaton was set to be a major component of the World Cup plans before he severely busted a knee in the Cane's campaign this year.

He was an early casualty as the jinx hit the second rowers with James Ryan, Keith Robinson, Ali Williams and Chris Jack all picking up injuries of varying degrees during a difficult year.

The picture hasn't got too much clearer.

Ryan remains sidelined with his knee problem, Robinson has finally had enough of seeing doctors and retired with his knee problem and Jack has ruled himself out of the frame by playing in Britain.

Throw in the looming loss of part-time lock Reuben Thorne and it's clear that Eaton has everything to play for.

Williams is left as the senior lock now and he's looking for a partner.

Eaton, with his aggressive game and wide-ranging skills, looms as an obvious candidate. He's looked the goods during his brief test career and after being carefully managed it seems the time may be right for him to take more responsibilities on his shoulders.

Weepu is an interesting case. Injury had nothing to do with his shock omission from the World Cup squad.

He's a forthright character and it seems he has got himself offside with the current management.

Now he has to show that he can't be ignored. If he can find his peak fitness that shouldn't be difficult.

Weepu has one thing going in his favour as he tries to fight his way back.

The departure of  Byron Kelleher to France leaves the All Blacks looking for a staring halfback. Weepu could fill that role easily. He's a guy to run out for the opening whistle rather than run off the bench.

But he does have a battle on his hands. He won't be short of opposition with three other "current" All Blacks doing the rounds in the Super 14 - Brendon Leonard with the Chiefs, Andy Ellis with the Crusaders and Jimmy Cowan at the Highlanders.

Without Kevin Senio to stall his game time in Christchurch Ellis has a chance to push his cause.

Leonard will be in a similar position at the Chiefs without Kelleher around. Leonard, a startling sub, needs to show that he can control the position for 80 minutes.

Cowan is the steady battler and somehow he was judged to be New Zealand's best Superb 14 player this year yet he didn't figure in the World Cup frame when Leonard and Ellis leap-frogged him.

That kind of summed up the puzzling thinking from the selectors in this key position.

In the end the All Blacks seemed to play Kelleher out of form with his limited action and the desire to implement Leonard's vigour as a sub as often as possible.

Weepu watched it all unfold from home as he played a very good domestic campaign with Wellington. No All Black wishes ill on the national side but you could forgive Weepu for a mischievous grin as Henry's team exited the Cup in the quarter-finals.

Much has been made of the centre position as New Zealand's World Cup Achilles Heel. The unlucky 13 jersey has played a major part in the last three failed efforts.

It was staggering that the selectors should show so much faith in Smith by getting him to the tournament despite his injuries and then ignoring his specialist qualities when it mattered most.

They also eventually ignored the impact and utility value of Nonu altogether. Like Weepu he was left to help the Wellington Lions to the local final.

Now it will be interesting to see how Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper uses the pair of Smith and Nonu.

Smith is an out and out 13. Does that bring him into direct competition with Nonu or does Cooper look to maximise both by playing Nonu either at second five or wing where he has played plenty of rugby over the last year or two?

Just one question among many for what promises to be a fascinating next phase of top rugy here.

- © Fairfax NZ News