Wynne Gray: Cruden logical choice for crack at Welsh

Aaron Cruden of the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

Steve Hansen's opinion counts the most. He will chew over All Blacks selections with Ian Foster and Grant Fox but the ultimate responsibility lies with the coach.

It's his mob and together they have set the global standards for the past three years.

One who has been a key plank in those All Blacks deeds for more than a decade is Daniel Carter, who is the best five-eighths New Zealand has seen in its gold-plated history. World-record points-scorer, 102 tests, countless man of the match and player of the year honours.

He and captain Richie McCaw are to the All Blacks what Nicklaus and Palmer were to golf.

McCaw is still pounding out performances to gild his credentials while Carter is battling a sabbatical season which turned into a programme pockmarked by injury when he returned to work. He had a brief run against the USA then 55 minutes of uncomfortable play against Scotland.

When Hansen assessed Carter's run against the USA he judged he was not ready to play England. His fitness was fine but he hadn't played enough for a test of that calibre.

Carter got another run against Scotland without any hint he is ready for the final test of the tour against Wales. He was diffident, untidy and then pulled.

Had Aaron Cruden produced that sort of work he would have worn some strong criticism but he is an easier target because he does not carry the volume of splendid work which has accompanied Carter in his All Blacks appearances.

That's past tense, because 2014 has been a rugby write-off for Carter through a combination of his extended leave and injury.

He's got another few months at home to get his body into further racing trim before he sets off to reaffirm his credentials in the Super 15.

Carter played tests in seven successive seasons from 2004 at the Millennium Stadium for six wins against Wales and a World Cup quarter-final loss to France. He gathered 92 points in those tests against Wales while on the All Blacks' last visit in 2012, Cruden started at first five and claimed 18 points.

He must be pole-sitter for another crack in Cardiff this weekend and there have been strong noises out of the camp about correcting his goal-kicking frailties from Chicago and Twickenham. Backup Beauden Barrett was equally erratic against England.

These two have been identified for some time as the heirs when Carter gives it away, his form slides or they simply overtake him and they are being kept honest by the versatile Colin Slade.

If the selectors turn all that logic on their head and use Carter in Cardiff, he will benefit from Aaron Smith's service behind a more effective pack.

Carter's history suggests he would cope, however his work from two part-games on tour does not justify his promotion ahead of a trio playing better.

If there is some World Cup rationale about this tour as Hansen mentions, would the All Blacks pick their fourth best five-eighths for the biggest match of the season?