Chris Rattue: Another roll of the dice for the latest All Blacks

So this is the All Black class of 2009, with three new entrants: Isaac Ross, Wyatt Crockett and Tanerau Latimer.

Without being too unkind, it's an unexceptional intake with plenty of room to grow.

Are we watching the birth of great new test careers or - to take it to the other end of the scale - three experimental blips that will quickly fall off the radar? There have been plenty of those in the modern era.

Ross gets his chance as the All Blacks test out locks who might match the class and long-term prospects of Ali Williams, given that Brad Thorn must be somewhere near his last legs.

Is Ross the man though?

We've been down this gangly track before. Jason Eaton was the next big thing but apparently no more, the much-touted James Ryan gave it all away after a little stint in the TV3 World Cup pundits studio, and the knowing glances for Jeremy Thrush have turned to shakes of "no". Which brings us to Isaac Ross (with Bryn Evans the next and newest cab off the rank).

The drums have been beating for Ross. He's been brought up in the best of schools of course. If anyone doubted that, compare the Crusaders and Chiefs performances at Loftus Versfeld over the past week.

The Crusaders are hardly champions of rugby as we are supposed to know it under the ELVs, but they made the Bulls work for victory. The Chiefs though were a shambles in the final, cruelly exposed as boys doing a man's job.

At least Ross has the Christchurch school of excellence on his side.

Next up, another Crusader in the form of long, tall prop Wyatt Crockett. The selectors were bound to get around to him one day, having detoured past Saimone Taumoepeau, Campbell Johnstone, John Schwalger, Clarke Dermody and Ben Franks.

Add to these the mainstays over the past five years - Kees Meeuws, Carl Hayman, Greg Somerville, Tony Woodcock, Neemia Tialata and John Afoa - and that famed frontrow club will need new and enlarged premises.

This easy-come, easy-go policy has never quite been explained - are the wise men getting it wrong year after year, or is this a frontrow development plan? (Yet another newcomer Owen Franks - not the aforementioned Ben - is on standby as the next prop in line).

Some of these new men came with glowing recommendations. All Blacks forward coach Steve Hansen told the world that Johnstone had the best right shoulder in the business, which doesn't say much for his left. Taumoepeau was a fast scrum engager, who was quickly engaged by Toulon.

Crockett shapes as a keeper, although whether he is a frontline World Cup finals starting prop remains to be seen.

He's like a tall Somerville; a coach's delight, who knows what his job is and will do it week after week. He appears to have an enormous appetite for work.

If the All Blacks want to put their best foot forward at the World Cup though, they should be working overtime to get tighthead Carl Hayman - the new Newcastle captain - back in the mix. A starting frontrow of Woodcock, Andrew Hore and Hayman still looks hard to beat.

Finally, what to make of Latimer?

Is the Chiefs openside the man to back up Richie McCaw?

Answer: Wouldn't have a clue, and who - hand on heart - could say he is the one.

Latimer is a real athlete and very committed. The jury is out on whether he has the technique and strength to rip free, or at least significantly delay, opposition ball at test level.

He was unable to stem the flow at Loftus Versfeld yesterday morning. In the Super 14 final, the biggest game of his career, he showed up in patches as a ball carrier, but didn't figure as a ball stealer in the McCaw-George Smith class.

It's a vital selection, because who knows how long the battered McCaw will last. The day has certainly arrived when the All Blacks and Crusaders can no longer rely on McCaw being available every week.

The Chiefs have a record of producing fringe All Blacks who at best are nearly-men who understudy the stars. As the Super 14 final showed, there are often flaws in players from this area which are exposed by the very highest standards of top opponents. Latimer is a young man in his physical prime who doesn't have history on his side.