Editorial: Lucky for some

Waisake Naholo's selection for the All Black's has stirred up some mixed feelings.

Pick a team, it's hard.

Select an All Black team and the whole country thinks it should have a say.

Choose a World Cup team, and the selection strategy needs to take in the fact that there are, potentially, seven matches to play.

Players who can't claim a test match starting spot can make a World Cup squad. Take Colin Slade, a specialist first five, who has not started a recent test match.

Highlanders/Southland first five Lima Sopoaga has, and excelled. But Slade is going to the World Cup - he provides wider cover.

The luckiest player? Waisake Naholo, who is recovering from a broken leg, and lacks recent game time and fitness. Ignore the unique Fijian treatment of his leg injury - it was always a break that was going to heal quickly. Sir Brian Lochore, who was on Radio New Zealand yesterday, said so.

Actually, Sir Brian's doctor had predicted Naholo's quick recovery, the type of break was fast healing, apparently.

Sir Brian, introduced as the captain of the 1987 All Black World Cup winning team, was in a paddock with some cows while being interviewed.

He was gracious enough to not point out that, actually, he was coach of the 1987 team.

Grant Fox was being interviewed at the same time, but comically, his cellphone kept cutting out just as he was about to elaborate on Naholo's selection.

If Naholo is the luckiest player, then Charles Piutau, a fullback/winger must be the unluckiest.

The wing slot is arguably the easiest position to break into if your form is hot - look at the selection of Nehe Milner-Skudder alongside Naholo. Game breakers, but they come with the disclaimer that inexperience brings.

Regardless of what you think, people are talking about the World Cup now, it has become very real.

And while no one wishes ill on any of the players, if there are backline injuries it would be great to see Piutau flown to England. He deserves to be there.