Junior ABs pressing for higher honours

Shunting prospective international centre Anthony Tuitavake back to the wing for the Junior All Blacks final Pacific Five Nations rugby match should not have affected his tilt at higher honours, says co-coach Ian Foster.

Tuitavake, considered an outside chance to fill the All Blacks' No 13 jersey in the wake of Tana Umaga's retirement, took significant steps towards reaching the top squad during the Junior All Blacks' campaign that concluded with their win over Japan.

With Foster and fellow coach Colin Cooper making eight changes for the match in Dunedin, Tuitavake found himself back on the wing where he showed his finishing touches to post a hat-trick of tries.

But with none of the three players trialled at centre in the All Blacks' first three tests of the season cementing the position, Tuitavake could have enhanced his claims further for the 30-man Tri-Nations squad to be named tomorrow.

Foster felt the sweet-stepping North Harbour player had confirmed his credentials.

"The fact that he's in the Juniors means that he's been pretty closely looked at," said Foster.

"He's shown that he's in the top four or five for that position and it's just a matter of what styles the All Black selectors want to play.

"I think he's seen as a competent centre and he's had opportunities with us over the past four weeks at centre [against Tonga] and he'll be judged on the time he played there."

With the All Blacks selectors trimming their squad for the Tri-Nations by nine, many pundits have claimed none of the Junior All Blacks would be in the running, but Foster felt all the players have put their hands up.

"I can't really think of a player who hasn't played particularly well. Everyone has jumped at the chance and that just shows the value of competition internally and it shows the depth in New Zealand rugby right now."

Besides Tuitavake, captain and hooker Corey Flynn shone throughout the series, while bruising No 8 Nick Williams showed glimpses of his burgeoning talent.

But Foster singled out utility back Tamati Ellison for special praise.

"I think the assessment is that he's a quality player and he's shown in the four games that he's been involved in that he's got really nice touches.

"In Tamati's case he's got a bit of an x-factor about him. His challenge now is to nail down where he wants to play and play consistently."

- NZPA