Rugby: Thomson narrows his vision

Wing or loose forward? It's sometimes hard to tell with Adam Thomson when he plays for the Highlanders.

Thomson is such an important player for the southerners that he feels the need to try to be everywhere at once - attempting turnovers, lurking wide trying to sniff out tries, mixing it on defence close to the ruck, winning lineout ball. His jobs are many.

The 30-year-old admits he enjoys his free-ranging role for Jamie Joseph's men but it's all change once he gets to the All Blacks, although once he completes his core roles, there is still potential for him to be near the sidelines and making life difficult for opposition outside backs.

"It is what I enjoy most, but I'll put that in the back pocket," he said with a laugh today after being named to start at blindside flanker for the All Blacks in Saturday's second test against Ireland in Christchurch.

"I need to adjust my game. In Super 15 you try to do a lot more than what your position requires. When it comes to the All Blacks the beauty of it is that you've got world class players around you so you just have to do your job. For me that's defend, lead the defence, be physical at the breakdown, grab turnovers if the opportunity is there and carry hard.

"At the Highlanders your vision widens a bit more, you try to cover more.

"If I nail those things [core roles]... then things like hanging on out wider and being on the end of the chain, if those things open up later then I can grab those."

Thomson, who gets his chance due to Victor Vito's knee injury, is used to being made to scrap for his opportunities at the All Blacks.

With Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino such a settled and compelling loose forward combination over the past few years, the opportunities for Thomson have been limited. Of the 25 tests he has played, 10 have been from the reserves bench.

"Obviously it's never the way you want to get a jersey," he said of Vito's injury. "Victor's a good mate and you don't like to see guys getting injured. It's a shame for him but it's an opportunity for me I guess to nail that spot. Coming into the season I knew Victor and I would have a battle, just like Jerome and I did for the jersey, so it just means I get my shot this week and I have to take it."

Thomson grabbed his chance in the All Blacks' 42-10 first test victory over the Irish at Eden Park last Saturday, chiming in nicely with No8 Read to score from a scrum move after he replaced Vito in the second half.

With the Hurricanes' player out for up to five weeks, Thomson will have this Saturday and potentially next week's third test in Hamilton to stake a claim for that No6 jersey.

It seems the All Blacks selectors see Vito as more of a long-term option given his size is similar to the hard-hitting Kaino, who is injured and about to depart to play club rugby in Japan.

But Thomson has improved his defence considerably over the past few seasons and is also an excellent lineout option.

And no matter the selection permutations, Thomson said one of the strengths of the All Blacks was how they worked together for the good of the team. Certainly, he is impressed with 20-year-old Sam Cane, who comes on to the reserves bench for his first taste of test rugby, and the other up-and-coming loose forwards in the country.

"They are very professional at such a young age... They're keen to learn, they look after themselves, physically they're in great nick for such young players and I'm very excited about the future of New Zealand rugby with guys like Sam and Brad Shields and Luke Whitelock coming through."