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All Blacks coach Graham Henry has called for a return to the Junior All Blacks rugby programme ahead of a selection conundrum this weekend.
Henry will call up at least one player as injury cover for captain Richie McCaw when his squad regather in Wellington on Sunday to prepare for the opening Tri-Nations rugby test against South Africa six days later.
While Henry can assess candidates such as loose forwards Tanerau Latimer and Liam Messam with the New Zealand Maori squad, he admitted to frustration that not all All Blacks fringe candidates were eligible for the Maori team.
Players such as Chris Masoe and Kieran Read have been largely out of sight in club rugby this month.
That wouldn't have been the case last year, when the Junior All Blacks - or New Zealand A - contested the Pacific Nations Cup.
The New Zealand Rugby Union this year replaced the defending champion Juniors with the Maori in that competition.
"Looking to the future, maybe we need to bring New Zealand A back," Henry told Radio Sport.
"There are some players that we want to see play at a higher level and they haven't had an opportunity.
"Both teams are very important to New Zealand rugby and hopefully next year we can get New Zealand A back."
In its discussion document released yesterday, the NZRU said hoped to reinstate the Junior All Blacks in an undetermined programme from 2009.
Meanwhile, Henry was revealing little today about who had the front-running to replace McCaw and, possibly, lock Ali Williams, who also suffered an ankle injury against England last Saturday.
"We're looking at a few people over the weekend and we've got some thoughts about form over the last 3-4 months," Henry said.
"It depends on who you play. If you play the Aussies, you've got some very good No 7s who are competitive at the breakdown.
"If you're playing South Africa, they're great big fellas at the loose forwards and they don't have a genuine seven as such. It's horses for courses."
His comments suggest a specialist openside such as Latimer may not be required against South Africa.
Henry said he had spoken to Williams, who was confident his sprained ankle would recover in time to face the Springboks.
"He's in good shape as far as I'm aware," Henry said.
"It's just a matter of how he's going to handle the pressures when we get into training next week and whether it's going to be 100 (per cent).
"Talking to him, it's very positive."
- NZPA
