All Blacks: Midfield duo offer rare versatility

Malakai Fekitoa of the All Blacks runs the ball during The Bledisloe Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Fekitoa and Crotty’s ability to cope with either centre role gives All Blacks options

Almost devoid of any real choice in the midfield at the start of the year, the All Blacks could reach the end of 2014 significantly over-subscribed in both roles.

And the equation has been dramatically changed not so much by the arrival of Sonny Bill Williams - although that has helped - but by the unexpected emergence of both Malakai Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty.

Fekitoa has been the find of the season, while Crotty has delivered the sort of error-free, highly accurate rugby that the coaches have loved introducing from the bench.

It's not just that both men have advanced further than most - even the coaches - would have predicted this year, it is the fact they have so seamlessly switched between second-five and centre that has opened up the selection landscape.

The versatility of both Fekitoa and Crotty is not typical in New Zealand. The rest of the world may see numbers 12 and 13 as pretty much the same position, but not New Zealand.

The All Blacks like a straight running No 12 who takes the gainline. They prefer a ball-playing, smart, distributor/organiser at No 13.

It's hard to find athletes who can switch between the two: hard to find players who have the necessary range of skills to be comfortable in both. But Crotty and Fekitoa are defying convention and at this stage, the All Black coaches aren't looking to ask either to specialise.

"We still see Malakai predominantly as a 13. The fact that he can play 12 - well we had to play him there - has sped up his growth a lot and we have opened an opportunity for that which we are delighted about," said assistant coach Ian Foster.

"He's a very real prospect in both positions now. But if you asked him which jersey he wanted to wear I think it would be No 13 and he's probably more comfortable there at the moment.

"Ryan keeps doing the job so effectively for us that I don't necessarily see him as a specialist in either. I think if you asked him he would say give me one of them - and we are delighted we are in that position.

"The ability to have those two to cover both is a little bit of a goal this year and we are pretty happy with their progress."

There could even be the prospect of these two forming a combination at some stage on this tour. Fekitoa, having not played since the encounter in Brisbane, is probably due a run, while Crotty's form is so good at the moment that there will be ample confidence and desire to let him loose.

The assumption would be that if they were to play together, it would be with Crotty at second-five and Fekitoa at centre.

That would allow the All Blacks to have their distributor and their linebreaker in tandem - but not in the usual jerseys. Fekitoa would be the strike runner asked to hit the ball up hard from centre, with Crotty using his vision and composure in a classic second receiver mode.