Gregor Paul: Changing places hard to fathom

Prop John Afoa looks a likely hooker. Photo / Getty Images

For the most part, Graham Henry has proven an astute selector in his six years at the helm. There hasn't been much, if any, national or regional outcry fiercely claiming a terrible omission.

There haven't been any perceived or real injustices and nor has the door been jammed shut on anyone - Anton Oliver, Reuben Thorne and Brad Thorn all made it back after Henry initially rejected them.

There is one legitimate gripe; one quirk of the Henry era that has slightly tarnished his reputation as a selector. He and his fellow coaches have been too eager at times to encourage some players to shift position.

It's unlikely Henry was serious when he said Aaron Cruden could be a possibility to cover halfback and play a few provincial games there.

But the coaching panel are deadly serious in their belief Isaac Ross, a long-term lock, is now potentially a blindside. Just as serious as they were with Jason Eaton - whom they also wanted to see play a little more on the side of the scrum.

Ben Smith, selected as a wing-cum-fullback on the end of year tour, is now, supposedly, a second five-eighth, while several props have been told to work both sides of the scrum rather than set their sights on being the best in their preferred position.

A lot of it doesn't make sense. Eaton and Ross are quite obviously lock forwards. Just because they are mobile and rangy doesn't mean they are suited to playing flanker.

Both were advised to think about playing blindside when they were slipping down the locking pecking order. The theory seemed to be that if they were the fifth-choice lock, they could somehow jump higher in the queue if they could prove to be moderately capable at blindside as well.

The logic is hard to follow and the South Africans appear to have a more straightforward handle on life. When they have multiple test candidates for one position, they advise those not being selected specifically what they need to do to oust the incumbent. Not good enough; work harder.

They have shown the value of that with Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski - arguably the best and second best No 8s in the world. If the All Blacks had access to those two, they would almost certainly accommodate them both - reinventing one as a blindside.

The Boks don't worship versatility in the same way. The best in the position plays.

The All Blacks could learn from that.

Both Ross and Eaton should focus on being locks and improve where they are weak.

Smith still looks like a wing or fullback and, if he's behind a number of other players such as Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Mils Muliaina and Joe Rokocoko, then he should have been asked to play his way past them.

The one exception is John Afoa. He's been asked to give hooker a try and few could argue the move has potential. The only complaint is that the commitment to the switch needs to be greater.

If he's going to make it work, actually prove he's a test calibre hooker, he needs more game time in the role.

By the sounds of it, he'll play mainly at prop for Auckland if he's available for any games this season and also at tighthead for the Blues. He'll hope to pick up the odd start at hooker here and there but that doesn't feel enough.

If he's going to go down that road - declare he's a hooker and no longer available to prop - that means a move away from the Blues or spending time on the bench behind Keven Mealamu.

If that's what it takes, then so be it.