Inga Tuigamala: Let's select only the best

Opinion

The All Blacks should open up their selection rules to include overseas-based players.

The tricky hunt to find a replacement for the injured Dan Carter simply strengthens the argument for including players based abroad in the selection calculations.

Rugby talks about becoming a global game but New Zealand keeps sticking to its insular ways.

In a nutshell, the All Blacks are our most prized and cherished rugby weapon yet we continue to limit the quality of the team. With Carter out, it should be imperative that the selectors can consider every option to find the best possible replacement.

Football is already a global game and Brazil is the prime example of how national team selections can no longer be dictated by a desire to protect a local league. Imagine a Brazilian national side that could not choose from their many overseas-based stars.

It seems strange to me that we sacrifice the quality of our test side in order to protect the lower-level Super 14, and even then the rule is not overly successful.

You can't suddenly replace some of the players such as Carl Hayman who have headed overseas. To ignore them is to throw away a decade of hard-won experience in some cases and lower the status of the All Blacks.

People don't often realise the numbers we are up against. While the quality of the Six Nations might not show it, the game is charging ahead in Europe with strong spectator support.

We are a small fish compared to overseas resource pools and eventually we are going to struggle as a test nation if we don't open up our rules so we can pick our very best side.

I hope that the NZRU finds a way to make Luke McAlister available for the test team this year, even though he has not qualified by playing in the current Super 14.

But I would also be looking at Nick Evans, the departed All Black who from what I have seen and read is in excellent form for Harlequins.

This situation needs to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. And it would be no good picking guys out of inferior competitions, such as Japan or the lower European divisions.

But the mantra has to be that the quality and mana of the All Blacks is to be protected at all costs and the NZRU simply needs to recognise a changing professional rugby world.

The key is to have strong and professional relations with the clubs involved. Manu Samoa has had to do this to survive over the years, so I'm sure the far stronger NZRU would be able to achieve this.

The loss of Carter is a major blow to the All Blacks and while I have plumped for McAlister and Evans as leading replacements I do like the look of Piri Weepu.

Although known more as a halfback, he looks to be really enjoying himself at No 10 for the Hurricanes and is showing the sort of signs that might have him in test contention.

The Blues have rearranged their side for the Cheetahs and one of the changes should have test implications.

There is some uncertainty over how long Richie McCaw will be out with a knee injury. If he is forced to miss some or all of the tests this year I believe the test No 8 Rodney So'oialo is the only man capable of replacing him at openside.

So'oialo wouldn't have McCaw's nous for the position, but then again, who does?

So'oialo has the work rate and aggression and is clearly the best man to replace him in my opinion.

This would bring Jerome Kaino into contention for No 8, with Kieran Read or Adam Thompson then set for the blindside.

I'm delighted that Pat Lam has moved Kaino from blindside to No 8 with Chris Lowrey switching to blindside.

You need experience at No 8, a position where tactics and tempo can be dictated. It is so important to get the delivery of scrum possession right as well. And the energetic Lowrey will be well suited to No 6.

I also like the look of Michael Hobbs, who Lam has brought in at second five-eighths.

I'm not so sure I would like to see him there for the season however, or if this is his best long-term position.

In the modern game you really need that power player at inside centre who is capable of threatening the line.

Hobbs certainly isn't that. But he looks very poised with an ability to put players around him into gaps. He is a definite challenger to Tasesa Lavea and Jimmy Gopperth at first five-eighths for the Blues.