Richard Loe: Crucial time to build up stocks

In what is a tough season for New Zealand Super 14 franchises because of the lack of depth in our rugby, 2009 is an important year for building up our stocks again.

With so many top players missing, there has been an opportunity for those younger or less experienced to stand up - and quite a few have. The first who comes to mind is Crusaders' lock Isaac Ross, who had a few games for the Highlanders as a draft player.

His mobility and ball skills are starting to stand out and, as he gets more experience, so he will work up the physical side of his game. One to watch, I reckon.

If you're talking out-and-out rookies - guys who never played Super 14 rugby before - I'd mention Karl Lowe (Hurricanes), James McGougan (Chiefs), Colin Slade (Crusaders), Chris Lowrey (Blues) and Israel Dagg (Highlanders).

Slade and Lowrey have come up through the age group system and have taken well to Super 14. Slade probably gets the nod overall. He had some fine games and some off ones but he has done tremendously well after being asked to play anywhere from first five to fullback and on the wing.

He is probably one of the best takers of the high ball - defending and attacking - in New Zealand rugby at present, has a good all-round game and temperament and he gets my vote for rookie of the year.

McGougan and Lowe have been around for a while without really cracking it and, whether through injuries or depth issues, have taken their chance. McGougan isn't a starting prop for the Chiefs but the competition he is providing for the likes of Sona Taumololo, Ben May, Aled de Malmanche and Hika Elliott is one reason the Chiefs are going so well.

Lowe has been a really livewire flanker, showing speed and work rate, and I'd venture to say the Hurricanes have not missed Chris Masoe because of him - one of the better No 7s on show in a relatively barren year for openside flankers.

I haven't seen a lot of Dagg but what I have seen has been good; knowledgeable judges tell me he's got a future.

The Crusaders have done perhaps the best job of bringing young players on this year if you look at the rise of Ross, winger Jared Payne, and the Whitelock brothers, Adam and George, and others. They had the biggest holes to fill after the player (and coach) drain and the most urgent need.

Even if they don't win another game this year, their season will still have been a success because of the players they have brought on and given experience and knowledge to.

Add that to the fact that more senior players - like Brad Thorn who has just re-signed for two years - are staying on and coming back and 2009 could be a bit of a watershed when it comes to building up player stocks again.

Senior players could put the squeeze on players coming up this year - but we need experience and we also need young, hungry players pushing to get to the top level.

Maybe, because of the depth problems, the Super 14 jersey has been a little easier to obtain in recent times.

This will toughen things up a lot and will help get New Zealand rugby back towards where it used to be - where a blend of youth and experience always made us difficult to beat.