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All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says it will now take an absolutely outstanding effort for a provincial player to force his way into the All Blacks. - Source: Photosport -
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It will now take an absolutely outstanding effort for a provincial player to force his way into the All Blacks from the national championship.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen made that clear when talking about his selection policies over the back half of the rugby season.
Now eying the two away assignments in the Rugby Championship with Tests in Argentina and South Africa, the only other All Blacks opportunities will come on the end of year tour that takes in four Tests against Scotland, Italy, Wales and England.
Hansen has a settled - and successful - squad and there doesn't appear to be room for any bolters from the ITM Cup.
Hansen told LiveSPORT radio today that selector Grant Fox had the watching brief on the ITM Cup.
But Fox's duties were more about monitoring the form of fringe players rather than unearthing a future star.
There was a need to keep an eye on the players who had been involved in the wider training squad earlier in the season to make sure they would be ready to step into the All Blacks to cover off injuries.
"The reality is the players that we are keen on, we keep an eye on," Hansen said.
"The ITM Cup rugby is all about guys getting themselves into the franchise teams from there ... that's the pathway.
"We have used players from there for end of years tours before and found what we were seeing at ITM Cup wasn't replicated at our level because the step is just too great.
"So we have taken the attitude that yeah, we'll keep an eye on the fringe players that might come into the team but the other guys are really working their way into franchise sides.
"Cleary we are flexible enough that if someone really stood up and was so outstanding that you could not pick them, we'd look at that player as well."
But that looks a real long shot this year given the strong mix of players that Hansen has already moulded.
He's got the comfort of his core of incredible experience and he's already cleverly blended in some new young players who look comfortable in their surroundings.
In terms of heading to Argentina on Saturday to play the Pumas the following weekend, Hansen will probably need to make a choice between carrying young Beauden Barrett as cover for Dan Carter's calf strain or taking the luxury of having five props on tour.
It seems likely that Barrett will get the nod.
Hansen said the current reports were that Carter should be able to play the Pumas. "But we have the option to take three five-eighths if we need to, just to give him a bit more time."
Hansen likes his current mix and said the contrasting couple of halfbacks in Aaron Smith and Piri Weepu was an example of being able to use players' strengths to suit situations.
The coach was quick to defend Weepu who didn't make the most of his first start of the season in Dunedin last week.
"We saw in Wellington whey he is the right fit. When the game suits his style there's none better," Hansen said of Weepu.
"He's not the same type of players as Aaron Smith at all. Aaron is nippy and carries the ball whereas Weepu is always looking to organise and get things going off slower ball. The two contrasts are great for us when we are in those (differing) games."