Who would be the All Blacks fullback?

Don't dismiss Daniel Carter as a prospect, says Gray. Photo / Getty Images

Imagine the All Blacks are playing a test this Saturday. Give me a fullback.

It's not a request you'd think was tough to deliver with the glut of talent wearing the No15 jersey in Super Rugby.

But selecting a fullback this week is taking on the sort of difficulty the selectors had picking a five-eighths during the last World Cup.

Ben Smith was concussed in the Highlanders' last match and we'll have to bypass him, Charles Piutau is out for six weeks with a knee ligament injury and Israel Dagg hasn't been sighted for some time after a calf injury.

Beauden Barrett could have switched roles, but his knee was banged up at the weekend which means another candidate, Colin Slade, will have to start at first five-eighths.

Who else can suit up at fullback, Tom Taylor, Cory Jane? Maybe, but Taylor's form has fluctuated this season and Jane could do the business but is coming back to his game on the wing so we'll leave him there.

Don't dismiss Daniel Carter as a prospect. He scopes the field as well as anyone and would make a great backfield commander while his defence and kicking game would also be a strong asset. The unknown would be whether his legs would stand up to the perpetual motion.

Doesn't grab you? Okay then, eight choices down. No problem there's stacks of talent in the younger brigade making their way through this year's series.

In geographical order from north to south there's Damian McKenzie, Tom Marshall and James Lowe at the Chiefs, Nehe Milner-Skudder, James Marshall and Matt Proctor at the Hurricanes, Trent Renata and Marty Banks with the Highlanders. You have to admit there's some exciting talent among that lot and we've got to make a choice fast with the test at the end of the week. It's narrowed down to a choice between McKenzie and Milner-Skudder with one to start and the other to fill multiple roles on the bench.

Love the attacking intent of all of them and it's not exaggerating to say there's a hint of Christian Cullen in the way Milner-Skudder attacks the line and glides into gaps to stress defenders. He's robust, related to former All Blacks Buff Milner and George Skudder and knows about professional sport from time with the Bulldogs' age-grade side in Sydney.

McKenzie has flitted between fullback and five-eighths and shown equal measures of attack and strong defence while his goal-kicking has been impressive when needed. His kicking game is useful and his positional play sound, so we'll start with him and bring Milner-Skudder off the bench to attack tiring defences in the last quarter.