Five Super 12 players to watch

BYRON KELLEHER

It promises to be one of the most fascinating battles of the Super 12 - can Byron Kelleher, incumbent All Blacks halfback, hold off what's sure to be a formidable challenge from arch-rival Justin Marshall?

Kelleher ended last year on a high note with a scintillating performance in the All Blacks' rollicking victory over France in Paris, scoring a fine individual try.

Marshall was stood down from the end-of-year tour by the All Blacks selectors, and Kelleher grabbed his chance.

Marshall is a player who loves a challenge but Kelleher, who has 32 test caps to his name, isn't about to lie down.

He's part of a Chiefs set-up eager to capitalise on making their debut appearance in the semifinals last year. He knows that his ambitions to retain his place for the Lions series may be hurt if he doesn't stake out his territory in the Super 12.

"It's a long year. That said, you've got to make sure your mind is in the right spot, wholly and solely focussed, then the rest of it will come," he says.

Should the Chiefs lose their way in the Super 12, it won't necessarily be a kiss of death to Kelleher's All Black hopes. He's too good a player not to be a prime contender when June's test programme starts.

But a strong, resourceful campaign as a key member of a Chiefs team making waves in the Super 12 won't hurt.

A date to watch for? Next Saturday night. The second round. The Crusaders at home to the Chiefs. Watch the sparks fly.

ROSS KENNEDY

Think the Hurricanes and names like Umaga, Collins, So'oialo and Nonu spring to the front of the mental queue.

But watch for young lock Ross Kennedy to make big strides this year.

The 22-year-old has all the attributes to press on to All Black status.

He's the son of former Canterbury forward Adrian Kennedy, was chosen for the junior World Cup-winning New Zealand team in 2001, and made the national under 21 side in the following two years.

He was a regular in the Wellington NPC team as a 19-year-old and since then his star has been on the rise.

At 1.98m, he's got the height to be a dominant lineout figure and his athleticism stands out in a Hurricanes pack hoping to put the wood on their opponents this season.

"He's got it all in front of him," Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper said.

"He's a big man, has a great work ethic and his training is right up there. His time will come."

So the question is not if, but when.

In a rough pecking order, he'll start the Super 12 with Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell, Ali Williams, Keith Robinson and Jono Gibbes in front of him.

The Lions might be a year too soon, but expect Kennedy to be pushing himself to the front of the All Blacks selectors' thinking by the end of this year.

JEROME KAINO

For three weeks late last year Jerome Kaino trained and waited.

Then he had a final week to remember on his first All Black tour with an IRB award as the under-21 player of the year and a try on debut against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

The young loose forward beat a lethargic Mat Rogers easily in a storming run to the line to cap a stylish match and an impressive year.

The 21-year-old American Samoan-born Kaino had been used five times from the bench during the Super 12 and was a standout in playing every NPC game for an ordinary Auckland side.

Kaino and young North Harbour back Luke McAlister were picked as the development players in an extended All Black party and should both be key members of the Blues squad.

The 1.96m Kaino is very athletic and at 105kg has the bulk, power and speed to bring to his work in the loose forwards.

At school, Kaino was a contemporary of John Afoa and Joe Rokocoko, with all three winning scholarships to St Kentigern College.

"It was the making of me," said Kaino. "I was a bit of a bad boy at school, always mucking around and not too keen on the schoolwork."

Since then Kaino and another prodigious talent, Springbok Schalk Burger, have opposed each other in numerous tournaments with both youngsters apparently set for lengthy stints in top-line rugby.

Once he recovers from a hamstring strain which has removed him from a repeat appearance at Twickenham in the tsunami charity game, Kaino will compete with Angus Macdonald and Justin Collins for the blindside flanker job with the Blues.

JUSTIN MARSHALL

Who wants to bet against Justin Marshall regaining his All Black place for the visit from the Lions?

The 31-year-old's fight to add to his 77 test caps will be one of the many fascinating selection debates as the Super 12 works its way through its final season.

Marshall was grumpy when the selectors decided they would take Byron Kelleher, Piri Weepu and Jimmy Cowan as their halfbacks for the All Blacks end of year tour.

Marshall did not like being rested; he came from the Wally Grout school of thinking about never giving a sucker an even break. The halfback's displeasure was still apparent when he lined up for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in the final tour match.

And the most-capped All Black halfback said his distaste for the expanded Super 12 series was behind his decision to accept a two-year contract with Leeds this year.

But Marshall will have to shine in the competition if he wants to be part of the three-test series against the Lions mid-year.

From all accounts Marshall is in fine fettle with the Crusaders, where his influence will be a crucial component in their hunt for a fifth title.

After making his NPC debut for Southland, Marshall moved to Canterbury where he made the All Blacks in 1995 and has played 92 Super 12 games, second only to his old All Black colleague Anton Oliver.

JOSH BLACKIE

Pick a position where the All Black selectors can rest reasonably comfortably. It has to be No 7.

For starters there's the peerless Richie McCaw, ace scavenger, Crusaders captain, the obvious successor to Tana Umaga and day-in, day-out probably the best on the planet.

Then there's Marty Holah, who would walk into most other test sides, at the Chiefs.

The Blues have Daniel Braid and Ben Herring is an all-action operator for the Hurricanes.

In the deep south, it's Josh Blackie who has the openside aficionados purring.

Born in Auckland, Blackie first made his mark for Otago in 2001.

A year earlier he had been a dominant figure in the New Zealand under 21 team for the international tournament staged in Auckland, scoring tries in the last two matches, and playing the last three games ahead of, er, McCaw.

In 2003 he shot to prominence with an outstanding NPC, scoring 10 tries in 12 appearances for Otago, having been a regular in the Highlanders pack earlier that year.

At 1.93m and 105kg, the 25-year-old Blackie has a physical presence and speed about the park.

His problem is the depth of class in his position. There can also be a high attrition rate.

Blackie will benefit if the Highlanders can put themselves about early in the Super 12. A strong showing should have the All Blacks selectors pencilling him into their notebook for future reference.

He teams up with No 8 Paul Miller and Craig Newby in a combative back row against the Blues tonight.

Some intriguing battles are looming for the country's premier forward fliers.