All Blacks: Present form a telling guide to All Black selection

Andrew Hore has done enough to beat other contenders to the All Black No 2 Jersey. Photo / Mark Mitchell

It's time. While the All Black panel remain off-limits for comment until they have settled on their specialist portfolios, the midway point of the Super 14 is a convenient selection site.

Reputations have been ignored, this is the time to choose a team on form shown so far in the series. Some choices were easy.

No one has been more complete than Daniel Carter at first five-eighths or better than Andrew Hore at hooker. Job done, two jerseys filled.

There has been scant standout form in some areas like wing, loosehead prop and second five-eighths while there is a surfeit of candidates at blindside flanker and centre.

Any of Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson or Victor Vito could be picked on their blindside form and with teams using their flankers on either side of the field, that creates the same liberty to pick two from that group to fill open and blindside duties. McCaw and Kaino make the cut in a very close pick.

At centre it is a choice between the minimal mistakes of Conrad Smith, the clout of Isaia Toeava, the instincts of Richard Kahui and the boom or bust mix from Rene Ranger. If excitement and anxiety spin your wheels, Ranger is your man but the other trio suggest more yield.

From the luxury areas let's go to positions of minimal choice.

There have been blazes of class from Zac Guildford so he slips into the left wing ahead of a misfiring Sitiveni Sivivatu but on the right flank there are struggles. Joe Rokocoko and Lelia Masaga? Mixed form and ditto for Tamati Ellison which leaves a choice between Sean Maitland and Ben Smith.

At second five-eighths, Benson Stanley, Ryan Crotty and Michael Hobbs have all perhaps edged the idling talents of Ma'a Nonu. The chairman would be chuffed to read out his offspring's name but Crotty wins the split vote.

Jimmy Cowan has worked his voicebox and frame out for an underperforming mob, Alby Mathewson has shown some sparks too but Brendon Leonard has offered those flashes of talent which get him the jersey.

The challenges are coming from Mils Muliaina and Cory Jane at fullback but they are not yet up to the same sharpness as Israel Dagg, who has also shown some goalkicking expertise.

Tighthead lock Brad Thorn is unopposed and with Ali Williams, Jason Eaton, Tom Donnelly and Kevin O'Neill out of action and Bryne Evans out of favour, picking his partner is like throwing confetti from the top of the stairs.

Is it Sam Whitelock, Isaac Ross or Chris Jack, all from the Crusaders? Coach Todd Blackadder can't work that out so in a dodgy ballot Josh Bekhuis beat out Anthony Boric.

The props have not made their claims clear and with Tony Woodcock and Jamie Mackintosh injured in a moderate loosehead group alongside Wyatt Crockett, John Schwalger and Sona Taumalolo, that allows an exemption to swap Neemia Tialata to the No 1 uniform.

Which leaves someone to fill the boot of the scrum. It is either Kieran Read or Thomas Waldrom from the Crusaders- although the latter is heading overseas unless Rodney So'oialo ceases his arm-flapping gesticulations and stops us protesting about his lack of involvement.

FORM XV

15 Israel Dagg
14 Sean Maitland
13 Conrad Smith
12 Zac Guildford
11 Ryan Crotty
10 Daniel Carter
9 Brendon Leonard
8 Kieran Read
7 Richie McCaw
6 Jerome Kaino
5 Brad Thorn
4 Josh Bekhuis
3 Owen Franks
2 Andrew Hore
1 Neemia Tialata