Wynne Gray: Spoiled for riches in back three

Mils Muliaina still oozes quality. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Picking the back three for an All Black squad gets harder every week. Not because the selectors are scrabbling around for ideas like finding a five-eighths backup for Daniel Carter.

Instead they are spoiled for players who can fit in at fullback and wing. They need five to cover those positions in a World Cup squad of 30 players.

Somehow the All Black selectors have to work out whether they are going to take specialists, multi-skilled men, strong defenders, real speedsters or versatile players to fill the roles.

Mils Muliaina is the incumbent fullback with the experience of 94 caps and quality still oozing through his performances. Even in a beaten Chiefs side, that calibre shines.

Other fullbacks who have been sharp are Isaia Toeava, Israel Dagg and Ben Smith.

Each offers a range of extras. Toeava has pace, a big boot and leads the organisation, Dagg sees the field on attack and interacts well with his wings while Smith has shone out in a steady Highlanders outfit and can also play in midfield.

He and Toeava are probably the most versatile contenders.

That ignores Cory Jane who has played most of his 23 tests on the wing and has never let the All Blacks down.

He is fighting a hamstring recovery and some tough times on the back of the Hurricanes' mediocre form.

Messrs Henry, Hansen and Smith have another swag of players to sift through for the wings.

They include Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Lelia Masaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Zac Guildford, Sean Maitland, Kade Poki and Hosea Gear.

Others capable of playing that role and who will be measured for those duties are Richard Kahui and Robbie Fruean.

The Canterbury duo of Maitland and Guildford have been sharp performers, building on the greater opportunities afforded by the Crusaders. Maitland made the early statements while Guildford's workrate has risen.

Gear was injured, but in a struggling Hurricanes unit he has been a beacon, a go-to man for some impact and finish. Big, strong and deadly, he has impressed as Sivivatu has done a freeze because of injury.

Rokocoko, Ranger and Masaga have all had hot moments. Ranger brings the most anticipation and the most mistakes, Rokocoko has been a workhorse.

If you want a hunch, though, a fit Kahui will be in the mix somewhere. His defence is powerful alongside his disciplined temperament and given a chance, he has plenty of gas.

He may accompany Conrad Smith in midfield and could also be a backup wing. Those are the sort of permutations the selectors have to wrestle with.

There is a fair way yet for the Super 15 to run and plenty of player-history for the panel to sort through.

For now, my five form players to fill the fullback and wing duties at the World Cup would be: Muliaina, Toeava, Dagg, Gear and Smith.