Rugby: Intrigue builds in Super horse trading

The Chiefs and Blues would love to snare Serge Lilo. Photo / Daily Post

It is horse-trading time again. Having submitted their list of protected players, the five New Zealand franchises will spend Monday and Tuesday plugging holes in their squads in preparation for the Super 14.

Some moves, most notably Stephen Brett to the Blues, have been widely anticipated, but there will be plenty more intrigue when the squads are announced on Wednesday morning, particularly around openside flanker.

Of the five franchises, only the Crusaders (Richie McCaw and George Whitelock) and Hurricanes (Scott Waldrom, Serge Lilo and Karl Lowe) will feel adequately covered from within their region.

The Highlanders, with the proven Alando Soakai as their first choice, might feel comfortable using Adam Thompson as back-up, but he is in the process of establishing himself as a test No 6 and might not appreciate the job.

Halfback could also be a merry-go-round, with Piri Weepu's Wellington back-up Alby Mathewson transferring to Auckland and Toby Morland leaving Waikato for Munster.

BLUES

Comings: Mathewson (Wellington to Auckland), Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks).

Goings: Jimmy Gopperth (Newcastle Falcons), Tasesa Lavea (Clermont), Michael Hobbs (Otago), Josh Blackie.

The situation: The Blues' off-season strategy was pretty much an open book, with seemingly every international first five-eighths dating back to Ollie Campbell being fitted up for a guernsey.

Neither Gopperth nor Lavea quite hit the mark last year and with both signing for overseas clubs and doubts remaining over Daniel Bowden's ability to be a force at Super level, the search for a replacement became desperate.

The situation at halfback was not a lot different. Jimmy Cowan was evidently close to signing, but in the end, the news that Piri Weepu was going to play 9 rather than 10 for the Hurricanes encouraged Mathewson to seek more game time elsewhere.

Draft outlook: Brett will be charged with guiding the Blues around the paddock.

Openside flanker appears as much a problem position as first five. Josh Blackie will not return from Japan as he did last season and Onosa'i Auva'a's form dipped to such an extent for Auckland that starting him at Super rugby level is almost inconceivable.

They would love Lilo, but so would the Chiefs.

CHIEFS

Comings: Craig Clarke (Taranaki to Waikato), Ben Afeaki (North Harbour to Waikato), Hikawera Elliot (Hawkes Bay to Waikato).

Goings: Morland (Munster), Sosene Anesi (Waratahs).

The situation: The Chiefs have added three forwards from their 2009 roster. Giant prop Afeaki is a handy pick-up given that Ben May had cruciate knee ligament surgery at the end of the Waikato season and a long recovery is expected.

Staying in the front row, Hawkes Bay's Sona Taumalolo is in the second year of his loan-back contract and will again don Chiefs colours.

Star centre Richard Kahui is still recovering from shoulder surgery but is expected to be able to train with the Chiefs in readiness for the season.

They'll need him, with the NZRU diktat preventing captain Mils Muliaina playing the first three games.

Draft outlook: The Chiefs will be in the market for a back-up halfback. Tawera Kerr-Barlow is a superstar in the making, but with doubts about Brendon Leonard's ability to get through a season without injury, the Chiefs will be looking for some experience here. It would be no surprise to see North Harbour's Chris Smylie end up here.

The Hamilton-based franchise got great value out of Lilo and would love to see him in the draft again. If he is, they might face competition from the Blues.

HURRICANES

Comings: Ross Kennedy (Otago to Hawkes Bay), Michael Paterson (Canterbury to Wellington).

Goings: Mathewson (Auckland), Zac Guildford (Canterbury).

The situation: There will be significant jockeying for position in the Hurricanes region next year, but most of it will come from the coaches box as speculation mounts as to who will fill the seat vacated by the departing Colin Cooper. Peter Russell, Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie would all jump at the chance, but for 2010 this remains Cooper's show.

One huge advantage he has over recent seasons is that the rugby gods have delivered him an outstanding No 10 for the first time in his tenure. Manawatu's Aaron Cruden, should he be free of injury, appeals as the face of the franchise for the immediate future.

Draft outlook: With four Air New Zealand Cup teams to call on, the Hurricanes are blessed with choice across the board. At a pinch they might look outside their region for a back-up halfback to Weepu, an extra lock and maybe a midfield back.

Last season 27 of 28 players came from within the region with only Southland's Jason Kawau needing a passport to enter Wellington. He might again make the trip north.

Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush and Bryn Evans are a sound locking trio, but Evans has recently had back surgery and Thrush shoulder surgery so it is timely that Kennedy has returned.

With Mathewson's departure, halfback cover is needed. Brett Goodin (Taranaki) and Chris Eaton (Hawkes Bay) appear to have the front-running.

CRUSADERS

Comings: Guildford (Hawkes Bay to Canterbury), Robbie Fruean (Wellington to Canterbury), Chris Jack (Saracens via Western Province), Dan Carter (Perpignan).

Goings: Leon MacDonald (Kintetsu Liners, Japan), Ross Filipo (Bayonne, France), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Michael Paterson (Wellington).

The situation: Carter is back. That's probably all you really need to know. Any side looks better with Carter in it and his combination with off-again, on-again All Black halfback Andy Ellis will go a long way to determining the Crusaders' final position. They will have the luxury of playing behind an all-international pack. Wyatt Crockett, Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross, George Whitelock, Kieran Read and, of course, Richie McCaw have all tasted life as an All Black. Thomas Waldrom is unlucky not to have.

Guildford is further evidence the Crusaders lead the way when it comes to identifying and pursuing the best talent.

Centre Laulala will be a big loss, but they are already raving about the twin talents of Ryan Crotty and Tim Bateman on the Mainland.

Draft outlook: With Brett going into the draft, the Crusaders will be looking for a back-up first-five. Colin Slade is more than capable but is expected to be competing for the fullback slot with Jared Payne.

Unlikely to be a headline-grabbing draft for the Crusaders.

HIGHLANDERS

Comings: James Paterson (Canterbury to Southland), Michael Hobbs (Wellington to Otago), Israel Dagg (Hawkes Bay to Otago).

Goings: Kennedy (Hawkes Bay).

The situation: The Highlanders are the NZRU's baby, the national body underwriting them for the next two years. They have placed Mike Eagle on the board and it would be disingenuous to think that a new chairman, Ross Laidlaw, coming in is a coincidence of timing. Dunedin City Council also has a seat on the board, an unprecedented step for a Super rugby franchise.

The Highlanders have added pace and power to the back three with the acquisition of Paterson. Dagg is officially a transfer now, though he is familiar to Highlanders' supporters after being drafted last year.

One thing working in the Highlanders' favour will be relative continuity, with their squad expected to look very similar to last year.

Draft outlook: One of the quieter drafts in Highlander history given the loan-back deals with Jayden Hayward, Johnny Leota and Clint Newland.

Jason Shoemark is not hooked up to a loan-back deal, but the southerners will likely snap him up in the draft to boost their midfield stocks.

They have boom Southland talent Robbie Robinson but there is uncertainty whether he is best suited to first five or fullback so, in the likely event that Bowden is in the draft, he will almost certainly head south.

Newland, Chris King and Jamie Mackintosh will be protected, so if there is some decent propping talent in the draft, they will look there also.