Inga Tuigamala: My four-midable backline bankers

Robbie Fruean could emerge as a World Cup wildcard. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

It's about that time of the year, the sharp end of the Super 14, when you start playing amateur selector.

Who has pushed their name forward, little more than a year out from the World Cup?

For the purposes of this exercise, I am going to select my back three and centre, with the scenario being that there is a test match this Saturday.

That rules out Mils Muliaina. He's still a certainty, if fit, but his absence has opened the way for me to propose a different back four combination. Isaia Toeava does not make the cut but he would be my first choice as bench cover, being able to play all positions.

There is a noticeable shortage of outstanding No13s. Toeava is seen more as a fullback, Benson Stanley has a big future but is not ready and Richard Kahui is out of form.

On experience alone Conrad Smith gets in at centre, but that doesn't do him justice. When he's fit and firing he is the glue that holds the backline together.

There's another guy who deserves a mention. Robbie Fruean should emerge as a World Cup wildcard. He has got the goods but still lacks a little experience.

The main thing for him at the moment is to be surrounded by good players so he can concentrate on his game only without having to worry about the others.

I'm giving Sitiveni Sivivatu until the morning of the match to prove his fitness - that's how important he is to this side on the left wing.

I'm sure if it was a semifinal this weekend, Ian Foster would risk him, so I am too. He's our most dangerous attacking player and his defence is much better now than it once was.

Rene Ranger gets the right wing spot. He has being playing at centre for the Blues, but wing is where he is at his most devastating. He's not the biggest guy but he is very strong.

He'll take the opposition on if he cannot go around them. He appeals to me as a guy who just wants to make yards no matter where he is on the field.

In the absence of Muliaina, Cory Jane plays in the No15 jumper. He was a player who I wanted to become a specialist wing, believing it would give him more freedom to roam, but he has proved me wrong.

He's super-consistent, reliable and has enough brilliance to make something happen out of nothing.