KEY POINTS:
He is one of rugby's poster boys on television, one of the new breed making their mark in the Super 14, one of the group chasing All Black vacancies.
Stephen Brett may be young but he has been well schooled at getting nailed on inquiries about promotion to the black jersey.
"I've got no clue," he says, "I am not a selector. If it happens that's great but I am concentrating on the present not the future."
The present is getting a start for the Crusaders when they host the opening Super 14 semifinal against the Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Brett played in midfield outside Daniel Carter in the lacklustre loss to the Highlanders, where some concerns about his defensive solidity was exposed.
The 22-year-old can attack with the best of them but his defence, especially when he operates in midfield, has come under scrutiny and will be studied even more by Ma'a Nonu and others if Brett is picked this weekend.
"It is all about getting more shoulder into it, filling the space and not getting left behind when I make the hits," said.
"I was slowing down sometimes and I have to go through the man more and earn the respect and trust of my teammates about what I can do."
Brett has some serious rugby pedigree to call on. His mother Lesley was an outside back for the Black Ferns and stepfather Victor Simpson used to create all sorts of backline havoc for Canterbury and the All Blacks.
Brett started off playing league but switched codes as he came up through the grades in Christchurch before taking over as first five-eighths for the First XV at Christchurch Boys High.
"I always played that position and it has only been with Dan around that I have moved out.
"He is awesome to play alongside. He runs the lines and I just run off him. I watch him all the time and it is great to learn and I hope it helps my game."
When Carter damaged his ankle this year, Brett snapped back into his more traditional first five-eighths duties after recovering himself from a shoulder injury. With Carter's return it has been back into midfield for Brett in an arrangement some believe will be repeated in the All Blacks.
Brett could not explain the flat patch the Crusaders had been through in recent weeks although he did not think it would take much to fix.
"We have to. This is do or die. The 52 points we got earlier in the competition have gone. They are no use now, this weekend is all about getting a result. Otherwise this will be our last Crusaders game together," he said.
