Rugby: Henry seeking legends' deputies

Tanerau Latimer is a logical stand-in for the injured Richie McCaw. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

There used to be more, but we are now down to two boxes Graham Henry hasn't ticked.

There is the rather big one - the World Cup. That remains Henry's Everest, the mountain he must climb before he can tootle yonder and heave a sigh of the truly contented.

The other, now that test wins in South Africa have been achieved, is finding long-term successors for Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.

These two brilliant All Blacks have perversely created a problem Henry has never been able to solve adequately. On his quest to find 30 genuine test players ahead of the 2007 World Cup, he found 28.

Not bad, but not enough to diffuse the smouldering ashes of doubt; that flicker of concern whenever thoughts turned to what if ...

What if McCaw is injured or Carter, as he so nearly did, takes the Euros and runs? What then for the All Blacks?

McCaw, as he showed last year, makes an extraordinary contribution as openside and as captain. Below par in Sydney without him, the All Blacks were world class the following week with him.

Carter's value is just as high. He's anathema to an older generation who can't understand how someone can attack like an angel and defend like a demon. That's Carter, composed, committed and gifted - the holy trinity.

They are, in a sense, irreplaceable. Others can wear their jerseys but it would be wrong to judge them by the same standards.

There will not be, in Henry's time, another McCaw or Carter. Still, what Henry must find is men who are worthy All Blacks, just unlucky to have been around at the same time as two legends.

So far, Henry hasn't managed that. There have been near-things. Marty Holah was the best alternative, yet Henry was seduced by the explosive power of Chris Masoe.

The rest of the nation was not convinced by Masoe and even Henry seemed to lose faith in 2007. That was true of Nick Evans, too, who was the preferred back-up for Carter.

Cometh the hour and cometh the lack of belief - Carter hobbled into the World Cup quarter-final because Henry, whatever he and his fellow selectors say, couldn't be sure they had implicit trust in Evans.

What Henry now has, following the injuries to Carter and McCaw, is a clear window to establish deputies who can play Sheriff if they must.

No one within the All Black camp will be complacent or underestimate the French or Italians next month. That, however, won't prevent Henry from acknowledging the next three tests are not the toughest assignments of the year.

These are opponents who provide the soft edges for experimental selections to ind their feet.

That's why Henry was dropping big hints Tanerau Latimer might be tried. "We think Tanerau at the end of last year was a tired athlete," said Henry. "He'd played a full Super 14, he'd captained the Bay of Plenty, and he was ready to go fishing and chill out.

"He's gone fishing, that's done him good and now he's ready to play. And he's had a big Super 14, hasn't he? We think it's a different mental approach right now for him. He's one of the potential All Blacks for that 7 position."

McCaw had plenty of respect and admiration for his former Crusader team-mate, but also mentioned George Whitelock as a candidate.

"I was impressed with what he did at the Crusaders," he said of Whitelock. The only uncertainty was whether Whitelock had played enough.

Lack of game-time has ruled Josh Blackie out, so Adam Thomson is the only other realistic openside choice.

Henry said there could be two specialists but also hinted one of those could be someone like Thomson, who while not a regular seven, is more than capable of wearing the jersey.

"There's other guys playing at 7 around the country or who could play at 7 who we think are quality international players," said Henry.

Latimer and Thomson would have to be the two the selectors are veering towards. Presumably when McCaw returns, one of them will drop to number three in the pecking order.

Neither Latimer nor Thomson can be who Henry wants them to be if they are not given time. Lack of faith killed Holah's confidence. He was never quite the same player after he was pushed aside by Masoe.

The same perserverance will reap reward with Stephen Donald - the undisputed understudy at first five. Luke McAlister will be available for the Tri Nations and has been explicitly asked by Henry to play at first five for the Junior All Blacks.

Without Carter, the All Blacks need cover in case Donald breaks down.

Donald needs to feel the trust and that the opportunity is all his. By the end of June, everyone, not just Henry, needs to feel progress has been made.

If Henry is going to tick the box of World Cup success, he'll need to have found back-up for McCaw and Carter.