After last weeks attempts at filling the vacant prop and lock spots for the All Blacks this season, it is time to have a stab at the back division.  However, this is a bit tougher - the halfback and an outside back spot needs covering in my opinion, along with the midfield.  The midfield though, especially centre, has not been claimed by any one player since the departure of Tana Umaga, so deserves a thought process of it's own.  Especially as there seems to be about 400 candidates for these positions alone...

Midfield is a hard couple of spots to fill at the best of times, combinations as well as individual skills needing to be looked at, and not only the 12-13 combination, but also how the 10 and 12 work together too.  Then add in the best three 12s in the country from 2007 having left (Mauger, McAlister and Tuitupou), well, it's back to the drawing board.

Where to start then, lets have a look at the potential candidates first, that's always a good starting spot.

From the Blues you have Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake.

The Chiefs candidates would be Stephen Donald and Richard Kahui.  We won't throw Muliaina into this mix, as we know he can play there, but we also know he is not the solution - unless he plays in 13 all the time for all the teams he plays in.  Callum Bruce and Dwayne Sweeny rankest of rank outsiders.

The Hurricanes offerings starting with Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.  Also perhaps Tamati Ellison and even the journeyman midfielder Tane Tu'ipulotu.

Heading into one-eye country (Crusaders), and you have Stephen Brett, Daniel Carter (I hope not, but he might get plenty of game time here, after all the Aussie coach is coaching the Crusaders), and Casey Laulala.

Then from the deepest south, the Highlanders, there are no genuine candidates.  Counties Manukau midfielder Niva Ta’auso who played, in the very few games he had, for the Chiefs last season really well might be a bolter, but don't count on it unless there are an avalanche of injuries!

Doesn't the cupboard look bare when you inventory it?  Quite scary really, but definitely a chance for 'someone to excel' and make a push to be included in the All Blacks for the first time, or to be recalled.

From the most Bart-favoured now, through to the blokes that are just making up the numbers.  So, prior to the Super 14, based on nothing but the ability to type, here comes the All Black midfield for 2008.

Maybe.

We'll start with my favoured combination, which, potentially, could be pretty bloody good.

Isaia Toeava (12) and Conrad Smith (13).
Both part of the All Blacks for the last few seasons, and both bloody good players with all the skills needed.  Toeava brings the power, and Smith the subtlety to this pair.  Not to say the Toeava does not have all the skills either, as he does - witness his display at 12 in last seasons Super 14 semi final.  This selection will depend a lot on where Toeava plays this season for the Blues, and also if Smith can last more than six minutes without breaking down! 

I think Stephen Donald will get the call up this season too.  Mainly as a 12 though, who can also play 10.  Donald has shown over the last year plenty of strength and pace on the break when playing one out from his usual spot.  So if he gets the game time at 12 this season, look for elevation to full All Black status from his current Junior position!  Defends well too, and if he is slotted into second five, his ten minute wind up for kicking won't be found out so badly.  To be fair though (which is a hard thing for me), his kicking from hand did improve last season.

Donald at 12 and Toeava at 13 is another potentially good duo too.  Donald with the 10 / 12 skills and Toeava the brute force in this duo.  Depends though, as everything does, on where the boys play during the Super season.

Richard Kahui too is another who I think will make the squad, injury permitting.  He just needs to maintain the form from the NPC of two seasons ago (and the glimpses of Super 14), and he will be a shoe in methinks.  A skilled player, to me a lot like Smith, silky skills and surprising strength for a slight looking bloke.

Kahui with Toeava or Donald inside him - imagine that, would anyone but the most rabid Mooloo Man have even thought about a midfield like that 12 months ago?

That is the four who I think will slot into the All Black midfield mix.  Perhaps a bit centre heavy with Smith and Kahui both being genuine centres, and nothing else, but bugger it, lets pick specialists, not fullbacks...!  Toeava can also cover centre, but only the Toeava and Donald can fill in the 12 shirt.  But in an All Black squad where you would have Evans and Carter, Carter could move out one and Evans take the 12 shirt if needs demanded during a test match, so it would not be so bad picking this four.

The remainder of the candidates, top of the list would be Nonu, Tuitavake and Laulala.  If any of these lads have a stellar Super season, they could easily find themselves in the mix.  Nonu in particular, and also Tuitavakeas, with their ability to play midfield or wing makeing them quite attractive in an All Black squad, and in a match day 22.  All Nonu has to do is cut his error rate, and he'll be back in black.  Especially as we have no 'human bulldozer' in the midfield mix at the moment, although Toeava is no shrinking violet and is a pretty powerful man - but not in the Nonu mould.  Tuitavake just needs to get a break - he's done the business for the Blues and for the Juniors over the last 2 years, just needs the selectors to give him a chance.  Laulala is a bit like Nonu, needs to get some consistency under his belt, reduce the errors, set the outsides up, and do it week after week.

The rest - including Brett, I think are rank outsiders.  Ellsion, Tuipolutu and Ta’auso just names to fill pixels on screen!!

The stats - in the 'order' I think they will be selected in the All Blacks this season.

Isaia Toeava  :  Auckland and Blues  :  22 years  :  1.81m  :  100kgs  :  15 caps  :  rugby museum profile
Conrad Smith  :  Wellington and Hurricanes  :  26 years  :  1.86m  :  95kg  :  12 caps  :  rugby museum profile
Stephen Donald  :  Waikato and Chiefs  :  25 years  :  1.90m  :  98kg  :  0 caps  :  NZ Juniors 2006 and 2007.
Richard Kahui  :  Waikato and Chiefs  :  22 years  :  1.90m  :  98kg  :  0 caps  : 
Ma'a Nonu  :  Wellington and Hurricanes  :  25 years  :  1.80m  :  104kg  :  18 caps  :  rugby museum profile
Anthony Tuitavake  :  North Harbour and Blues  :  25 years  :  1.82m  :  89kg  :  0 caps  :  NZ Juniors 2006 and 2007.
Casey Laulala  :  Canterbury and Crusaders  :  25 years  :  1.85m  :  100kg  :  2 caps  :  rugby museum profile