No10 cupboard brimming

TALENTS: Opposing first-fives Marty Banks (Hurricanes), left, and Benji Marshall (Blues) swap notes after Saturday's game.

Remember the days not so long ago when apart from the incomparable Dan Carter the stocks of international quality first-fives in New Zealand rugby bore a close resemblance to Mother Hubbard's cupboard?

Well, no more. Not only does Carter have a couple of younger guns in Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett breathing down his neck but the Super 15 pre-season thriller between the Hurricanes and Blues at Memorial Park, Masterton, on Saturday threw up a couple of names who could be serious contenders as well.

In a sell-out match which enthralled and thoroughly entertained a 6000-plus crowd and was won by the Hurricanes 38-35 after they trailed 24-35 going into the last quarter, Hurricanes first-five Marty Banks and his Blues counterpart, much vaunted rugby league convert Benji Marshall both did enough to suggest their names could be in the All Blacks frame in the not-too-distant future.

Let's take Marshall first. Sure, he only played the first 40 minutes and sure, he made none of those electric breaks which made him such a standout in the league world. But when you consider this was his first game of serious rugby for something like 16 years and he was confronting a Hurricanes loose trio comprising three hard nuts in Ardie Savea, Jack Lam and Brad Shields who were intent on restricting his time and space, the fact he stayed composed and did most of the basic things well spoke absolute volumes for his temperament and potential. Clearly he is still very much in a learning curve but as Blues coach Sir John Kirwan commented he should have been "incredibly happy" with his hit-out.

Banks, for his part, has been around the rugby scene for a good while now but it was only last season when he consistently starred for Tasman in the ITM that he thrust himself into contention for Super 15 selection. Judging by Saturday's performance Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett pulled off a major coup with his signing. Getting off to a flier by setting up the 'Canes first try for halfback Chris Smylie and then sprinting 80m for a try of his own after latching onto a loose pass, Banks never missed a beat in general play and his excellence in the goal kicking department is a handy second string to his bow.

With neither side fielding their current ABs and the final scoreline therefore being of little consequence to how things are likely to pan out for either side during the Super 15 season, this was very much a game where the up-and-comers had a chance to shine and several players made every post a winner in that respect.

Blues centre George Moala, for instance, would have contended strongly with Banks for any player of the match award. His tricky footwork and rapid acceleration saw him pierce the first line of opposition defence on numerous occasions and he also showed the ability to link up with his supports once that had been achieved. Big lock Liaki Moli also shone for the Blues with his aggressive running with ball in hand and diligence in the mauls and much the same could be said for his middle row partner Patrick Tuipulotu. And for sheer get up and go the northerners also had a leading light in wing Tevita Li, whose two tries were a good reward for his contribution.

It was the Hurricanes, of course, who had most of the crowd support and while management will no doubt be asking questions of how an early 19-0 lead became a 19-35 deficit by late in the third quarter, their storming comeback, which produced three late tries, would have made any script writer proud.

Appropriately it was lock James Broadhurst who scored the try which counted most in the end result for he was one of the better 'Canes players with his taking down of clean lineout ball and assertive running and mauling, while you could not help but admire the tenacity of Savea and Shields in their close quarter defence and the size and strength of front rowers Chris Eves and Joe Royal. And while Banks was clearly the pick of the rearguard, fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder was a willing and able counter attacker.

One must mention, too, the singing of the national anthem by Masterton's own Cruize Karaitiana before kick off. It was a stunning rendition performed without music by a young man headed for the top in his own field.

Hurricanes 38 (Chris Smylie, Marty Banks, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Matt Proctor, Cardiff Vaega, James Broadhurst tries, Banks (3) and Andre Taylor cons), Blues 35 (Tevita Li 2, Lolagi Visinia, Jackson Willison, Sonetane Taqulua tries; Albert Nikoro (3) Baden Kerr (2) cons.