Super 14, super 11 - the race for wing spots is on

Sitiveni Sivivatu is the only Chiefs player to make all 13 starts this season. Jeff Brass / Getty Images

When the All Black selectors are rifling through their notes and pondering the problem positions, wing is unlikely to be among them.

Actually it might be, but more along the lines of "Gee fellas, who do we leave out" rather than "flipping heck, we've struggling here".

One of the success stories of last year's 12-test programme was the confirmation that New Zealand have at least four high-calibre wings at work in this country.

All four played test rugby last year as the selectors, rather than plump for the two best, kept their options open. They'll most likely do the same this year as they start to pare down players in other positions for the end-of-year tour to the Northern Hemisphere, which is expected to be the time their World Cup thinking becomes more clear.

But the chances are they'll still be weighing the merits of four different but top-class operators wearing Nos 11 and 14 at the end of this year.

Tomorrow night, three of them step onto Eden Park for the final Super 14 round robin game between the Blues and the Chiefs. Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko will be at the end of the Blues lines, Sitiveni Sivivatu will be prowling the left flank for the Chiefs.

Down south, Rico Gear will be cooling his heels on the Crusaders bench tonight when they play the Brumbies in Christchurch. It is the first time he's not started for the Crusaders this season.

So how to compare the four? First, remember, Howlett is a right wing specialist. Gear spends most of his time on the right. Rokocoko and Sivivatu tend to be used more extensively on the left.

Now, some numbers. Sivivatu is the only Chief to have started all 13 games this season. He's scored seven tries, some of them dazzling, such as his effort against the Waratahs last weekend.

Gear has bagged six tries in 12 starts, backing up a strong 2005 when he scored a remarkable 15 tries in 13 games.

But it's been a different story for the Blues men. Howlett has started seven games and scored four tries; Rokocoko has begun all 12 so far, for just a solitary try against the Cheetahs a fortnight ago.

Yet, it's a different story when he pulls on the black jersey. In 30 tests, he's averaging a try a test. As outstanding as that record is, it's not that superior to his three mates.

Howlett, the senior of the quartet, has scored 41 tries in 50 tests; Gear has 10 in as many internationals; while Sivivatu can better his cousin Jolting Joe's strike rate. He's got eight in six tests.

An embarrassment of riches, then, for the selectors, Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and Sir Brian Lochore.

So who did they opt for last year? Gear had seven starts, Sivivatu six, Howlett and Rokocoko five apiece.

The selectors' most favoured combinations over the 12 tests were Howlett and Sivivatu, and Gear and Rokocoko (both four test starts together).

Gear and Sivivatu were together twice, Howlett and Rokocoko once. Only two other players got a look in on the wing, Mils Muliaina starting the South African test in Cape Town, and Ma'a Nonu coming on for Sivivatu in the second Lions test.

Will the players' form in the Super 14 affect their All Black chances, or will the panel trust their instincts irrespective of what they've seen over the last couple of months?

Howlett felt a cold chill down his spine last year, dropped after the first Lions test. He admits he took it hard at the time.

"That was a tough old time, but that's part of what we do," he said yesterday. "You win games, lose games, get dropped, get selected, and that helped because it gave me time to focus on myself, get in some good training and thankfully I got back in the team."

Howlett will mark Sivivatu tomorrow night. He'll tick off things to remember ahead of kickoff.

"My preparation won't change much. I'll go through my processes and hopefully I've covered everything Siti's got up his sleeve. It's a long list," he quipped.

Howlett came into the All Blacks at a time when the wing options included Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson and Tana Umaga. He was in classy company then, as he is now.

"I think we're at that level again and it makes everyone play better."

Rokocoko reckons playing a high-calibre opponent provides a spur, but only up to a point.

"You've got your standards to live up to. You can think about the other person to fire you up, but you've got to get yourself up as well," he added.

Of his modest return for the Blues, Rokocoko admits he's been "a bit up and down, but I'm feeling more in form now than last year".

"I'm concentrating on the little things. Some parts I'm happy with, some I'm not.

"I guess that's just the way it goes, but it's a long year and we're not even halfway through."

The unspoken implication being, watch this space. Which, at this stage of proceedings, might be precisely what Henry and his fellow selectors would say.

THIS SEASON

Howlett 7 starts (1 replacement) 4 tries
Rokocoko 12 starts, 1 try
Sivivatu 12 starts 7 tries
Gear 12 starts 6 tries

Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs)
Age: 24
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 99kg
Tests: 6
Tries: 8
Test debut: v Fiji, June 2005

Doug Howlett (Blues)
Age: 27
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 89kg
Tests: 50
Tries: 41
Test debut: v Tonga, June 2000

Joe Rokocoko (Blues)
Age: 22
Height: 1.89m
Weight: 98kg
Tests: 30
Tries: 30
Test debut: v England, June 2003

Rico Gear (Crusaders)
Age: 28
Height: 1.81m
Weight: 92kg
Tests: 10
Tries: 10
Test debut: v Pacific Islanders, July 2004