High-octane Blackie in the national frame

What price Highlanders flanker Josh Blackie for the All Blacks at some stage this season? The end-of-year tour to Europe may be a possibility as opposed to the Lions tests, but Blackie's free-running, high-octane game against the Reds on Friday may have helped propel the 25-year-old openside into the national frame.

It is not all that long ago that Blackie was involved in the unseemly NZRU hassle involving Super 12 taking precedence over New Zealand Sevens selection when some high-profile players opted out of the Sevens World Cup in Hong Kong.

Blackie was phlegmatic about playing and about some of the reasons offered by other players for not leaving Super 12 - the fact that they lost weight playing sevens being one of them, weight allegedly needed in the fifteens version. He played for New Zealand even at the potential cost of losing ground in his Super 12 career and was New Zealand's brightest light.

Many people have either forgotten or didn't know that Blackie, born in Auckland but a firm Otago rugby player, also used to keep a fellow called Richie McCaw out of the side in their New Zealand under-21 days.

He showed why in his man-of-the-match display against an uncertain Reds, scoring two tries.

 

His support play and running from broken play was dynamic against the Reds and put them under pressure all night. The game was loose enough - and the Reds made so many mistakes - that he was able to showcase his tremendous speed.

It may be claiming too much to see him as a back-up to McCaw just yet as Blackie does not have the Canterbury man's adeptness and efficiency on the ground in the rucks and mauls. But if you are looking for a man to play a role in a support-play, counter-attacking game plan, he has plenty of credentials.

At present, Marty Holah probably still has the all-round game and the experience to keep the back-up spot to McCaw but Holah's form has not always been convincing. He is suffering from the reduction in the Chiefs' fortunes.

Blackie has been showing up as the Highlanders' pack has strengthened and as Craig Newby does a lot of the hard possession work in the rucks and mauls. This is a key part of Newby's game and it has helped Blackie to do what he does best.

It will be interesting to see if the Highlanders can keep their momentum and allow Blackie to keep his.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY