First Take: All Blacks hopefuls shine for Hurricanes

Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst continues to push his claim for All Blacks honours. Photo / Getty Images

Hurricanes 56
Highlanders 20

Much of the speculative money this week has been on lock James Broadhurst getting an All Black call-up after the season-ending injury to Patrick Tuipulotu.

It's a fair bet given the form he's produced for the Hurricanes throughout the Super 15 series. The 27-year-old's form is ripening at a crucial time.

If that picture plays out it's likely to be at the expense of his franchise and All Black buddy Jeremy Thrush.

Maybe it was a reaction to all that speculation, perhaps it was the way the game ran but Thrush was a man right out of his nest at Napier tonight as the Hurricanes smoked the Highlanders.

There was a heavy snarl with his game to complement the hard work at the set-pieces and constant chivvying of his teammates. He was up for any old scrap rather than yield any ground at McLean Park and smacked into his carries and defence with increasing impact.

All that will have put another strong mark beside his name in the national selectors' notebooks.

So will Ardie Savea with another all-action game but where can they fit him in a World Cup squad while rookie Nene Milner-Skudder continued to show the attacking flair which flummoxes defenders.

His ability to create equal havoc from fullback or wing is building a compelling case for his national inclusion, especially with the injuries to Israel Dagg and Charles Piutau.