All Blacks: Punting on the wildcard wingers

Joe Rokocoko has been in strong form for the Blues this season. Photo / Getty Images

Ben Smith was a wildcard wing on the last All Blacks tour when he and Zac Guildford were chosen for their test debuts.

That investment in the rookie duo will go some way towards soothing the selectors' latest angst as they sort out a replacement for the injured Sitiveni Sivivatu.

However there is no certainty either will slip into Sivivatu's vacant left wing jersey.

Sivivatu's cousin Joe Rokocoko has been in strong form for the Blues this season and pushing for reinclusion after his 60-test run was halted before the end of year tour.

Hurricanes utility Cory Jane did a fine job on the flanks last season and could repeat that work if he is not required at fullback.

There are others too like former All Blacks Hosea Gear, Lelia Masaga and Rudi Wulf who could be retreaded while Isaia Toeava and Richard Kahui were used on the wing two years ago.

However this may be a chance for the All Black selectors to take a punt on Rene Ranger or Robert Fruean, two young men who have made great advances in this year's Super 14.

For some time the repeat Achilles tendon damage to lock Ali Williams was the major challenge for the selectors but this week they were told Sivivatu's season was over as he faced shoulder surgery.

Williams' absence eliminates his 61 test caps' experience while Sivivatu's departure takes his tally of 43 caps out of the backline.

If Rokocoko's form holds and the selectors believe he has sharpened his kicking and catching deficiencies, he could slot back into the role where he started impressively in 2003.

Guildford might be favoured for the other flank after a steady campaign in his move to the Crusaders. Smith has been hampered by the lack of flow in the Highlanders' work but he was the surprise pick last year.

However if the selectors see Fruean or Ranger as chances for next year's World Cup, if they think they have the clout to measure up faster than Toeava eventually did, they might plump for one in their initial squad.

They are a talented duo, they look like they might have more "game" than others though they both have a tendency to wander from their core duties.

But if Ranger and Fruean are judged to have that necessary x-factor clout, then the All Black selectors will fancy their ability to mould one or both into test players.

They will want to start that project now rather than wait until a World Cup year as they will be extremely reluctant to take untested players into that tournament.

Fruean, a 21-year-old who has made a remarkable recovery from open-heart surgery, has been an IRB player of the year and replaced Casey Laulala at the Crusaders.

Ranger is 23, a former sevens rep, a Junior All Black last season and into his second year with the Blues where he has shown some exceptional attacking menace at centre while also playing wing.

Both players have rough edges but so do many test players. They offer instincts and a dynamism which recalls the selection of Tana Umaga for the All Blacks.

The celebrated centre and All Black captain began his test life as a wing in 1997 where his gifts were given some licence as he worked his way on to the international stage.

TESTED
New All Blacks at World Cups:

* 1987: Bernie McCahill, Bruce Deans, Michael Jones, Zinzan Brooke.
* 1991: Shayne Philpott, Va'aiga Tuigamala, Jon Preston, Jason Hewett, Steve Gordon, Graham Purvis, Graham Dowd.
* 1995: Eric Rush, Simon Culhane, Norm Hewitt.
* 1999: Rhys Duggan, Bruce Reihana
* 2003: Ben Atiga, Corey Flynn.
* 2007: None.