KEY POINTS:
For several years, the All Black panel have been monitoring Anthony Boric because they saw him as a future test lock.
Evidence of that progress in the latter stages of this season's Super 14 was enough to promote the Junior All Black and Harbour skipper to the national squad.
After Boric's part in the All Blacks 32-16 victory against Scotland to open their latest Grand Slam attempt, forwards coach Steve Hansen suggested it was the 24-year-old's best work in the national jersey.
Boric was accurate in his primary lineout and scrummaging skills, is a mobile defender and support player and appears more comfortable each time he enters the arena, although he would have been embarrassed by his untimely sinbinning for what was judged to be a professional foul.
With Chris Jack, Troy Flavell and Reuben Thorne all working offshore, Keith Robinson retired and Ross Filipo and Jason Eaton still making their way back from injury, finding other locks to work with Ali Williams was a huge assignment.
Brad Thorn's remarkable return solved one vacancy and the selectors plumped for Boric as the apprentice.
"At the start of the year, a lot of people would have been second-guessing why we picked him but we have had him on the radar for a couple of years, liked what he has been doing and he really finished the Super 14 very strongly," Hansen said.
He emphasised that the selectors placed a great deal more importance on how players performed in that competition rather than the national provincial championship. Hansen felt that disparity in standard was underlined for those like Jamie Mackinstosh, Liam Messam and Kieran Read who made their test debuts against Scotland.
They had done well, but like Rico Gear in Hong Kong, had to make a bigger adjustment to internationals than those who were picked after the Super series.
That was the difficulty for the selectors in picking an expanded tour party for the Grand Slam challenge from those who had been playing in the Air New Zealand Cup.
"They have all got the experience now they have been somewhere where they have never been before and I think they will all acknowledge that it is a completely different type of pace and intensity at test level than Air New Zealand Cup," he said.
It would be great to welcome new dad Mils Muliaina into the test side for the next match against Ireland at Croke Park this weekend. He had travelled well and was ready to play while Joe Rokocoko was also keen to push on after his limited recent rugby.
Ireland would choose a side blending the Munster pack and Leinster backs which would be new coach Declan Kidney's first crack at the All Blacks after he travelled to New Zealand in winter, but only as an observer of the national squad.
