Richard Loe: Psst, like a little bet on a stand-in prop?

Here's a little bet for you. I bet that, during the All Black tour of Europe and the UK, a prop is injured. I also bet we see a guy by the name of Carl Hayman, or maybe Greg Somerville, pop up.

I know it's not allowed. The NZRU constitution says the All Blacks can only field someone eligible for the All Blacks. Eligibility includes the requirement that the person be playing in New Zealand.

But there's the little matter of that Luke McAlister bloke. There were rules governing him coming back to New Zealand, weren't there? They got overlooked or amended real quick, didn't they?

I don't know what McAlister's contract says but I would think it is something like: 'If you come back to New Zealand now, we will guarantee you ...". Know what I mean?

These guys coaching the All Blacks do pretty much what they please. I am not suggesting they'll hook Hayman or Somerville in regardless but, if there is an opportunity to re-write the rule book, don't be surprised if they take it. They could also look at doing a McAlister and getting Hayman back to New Zealand early if they can do a deal with his club.

You can see they do as they please with the rotation of the coaches. They have rotated everyone else, now they are rotating themselves.

Wayne Smith and Graham Henry did attack and defence. Mike Cron did the scrums. Apparently, we don't ruck and maul any more. That leaves the lineouts. Who's been doing them? My worry is that Steve Hansen is now attack coach. If we don't perform there, we are in the crapper.

The players are supposed to be specialists. So are the coaches. If you are not performing in your specialist role, surely you're down the road, not duck-shoved into another position. Since when do employees decide who does what - that's for the NZRU, Jock Hobbs and the board. They appointed these guys.

The NZRU expect us to continue to support the All Blacks and we will - because they are our national team and we love the game. But rugby will continue to lose support if the NZRU don't get more open about things like Hansen's appointment and what it really means - rather than insulting our intelligence with spin.

On the whole, I thought the All Black team was okay - even though the selectors didn't take all of my advice. I still thought some of the guys I mentioned should have gone despite Robbie Robinson having an ordinary game for Southland against Canterbury in that historic Shield challenge.

But the guy I feel most sorry for is Hawke's Bay flanker Karl Lowe. I went for Canterbury's George Whitelock as back-up to Richie McCaw but that was before I reviewed that vital Hawke's Bay-Canterbury clash.

Whitelock played with almost a full All Black pack. He was off the pace. Lowe beat McCaw to the tackle and the ball several times, though McCaw was playing No 8. For me, Lowe ticks the boxes as a No 7. The best breakdown ball-winner in world rugby is Springbok Heinrich Brussow who I rate higher than even McCaw in that area right now. Lowe tackles, gets to the breakdowns and creates turnovers .

Tanerau Latimer doesn't do it for me in the same way - but I will be delighted if he proves me wrong. But I have to say that Whitelock's omission, in the end, was probably deserved.