All Blacks loosehead prop search and the 15 players putting their hands up for selection – Paul Lewis

Most All Blacks selection focus so far has been on keenly contested positions – first five-eighths, lock, loose forwards and the midfield – but perhaps the most urgent need is in a little-regarded area that could see a genuine bolter this year.

Loosehead prop stocks are thin now that Tamaiti Williams is in the sick bay, likely for an extended period, missing the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season and probably more.

Ethan de Groot has been in fine form and happily spent Saturday afternoon bending New South Wales Waratahs tighthead Dan Botha into a shape resembling a paper clip, before the Highlanders held off a spirited comeback to win 31-26. There is no doubt de Groot is our current No 1 in the No 1 jersey, but other options are limited at what might be called the top level right now.

Those options start and end with All Blacks George Bower (33), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (34) and Ollie Norris (26). Age isn’t necessarily a barrier for props and Bower can also play tighthead, which is useful in a squad. However, he and Tu’ungafasi, fine players both, are possibly past their prime, with the latter still a rock in the scrums but not as mobile as he once was.

If you think scrums aren’t all that important in the modern game, think again. Using de Groot’s game as an example, two of the Highlanders’ four tries against the Waratahs came after dominant scrummaging and, when they lost their mojo at scrum time, the Waratahs were able to rebound.

Winning or gaining parity in set pieces is crucial in test rugby. Any efforts by the All Blacks to run their opponents off their feet or counter-attack must stem from a stable set piece as well as breakdowns. Props these days also have a double function: set-piece efficiency on the one hand, plus ability with ball in hand and the defensive flexibility to be able to make a tackle, bounce back up and make another or get to the next ruck. Big, strong scrummagers aren’t enough if those mobility skills are missing.

De Groot consistently makes a lot of tackles in his high workrate but isn’t as effective in carrying. Norris is the future and is highly mobile, making a couple of good runs as the Chiefs beat the Queensland Reds 31-21 this past weekend. He may not yet be a feared scrummager but certainly held his own against the Reds.

So, if injuries intervene as they so often do in the front row (witness Williams and Tyrel Lomax), which loosehead not already an All Black might win his spurs at some stage this year? Coach Dave Rennie and his fellow selectors will likely develop more – either in an extended squad, blooding one or two in selected tests, on the midweek schedule of the South African tour or on the end-of-year European tour.

Most obvious is the Hurricanes’ Xavier Numia, who came close a couple of years ago and is playing well for the table-topping side. He is not huge as props go (1.89m, 111kg) but is mobile and a solid scrummager. After that is more of an unknown zone with the Crusaders’ Finlay Brewis (26) a contender from a stable where he has played and trained alongside the likes of Williams, Bower, Fletcher Newell and former All Black Joe Moody. The Blues’ Joshua Fusitu’a (25) is injured at present but is a genuine prospect, as is big Chiefs tyro Benet Kumeroa (25) – an All Blacks XV selection last year and happy on either side of the scrum. They played together in the Auckland Grammar front row some years back.

It seems likely at least one of that list will make the All Blacks roster this year. Meanwhile, in a round 13 which featured many rotation changes, those who best made a case for All Blacks selection were:

Hooker: Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs) – two tries off the bench against the Reds underlined his impact credentials. Codie Taylor was buried in the tight stuff against the Blues while George Bell replaced him, also impressing with his late-game running.

Props: Ethan de Groot and tighthead partner Angus Ta’avao (Highlanders). Now 36, Ta’avao will almost certainly not be in the All Blacks this year but the Blues reject dominated the Waratahs scrum with de Groot and made several good carries.

Locks: Sam Darry’s tireless tackling and carrying, and Jamie Hannah in the Crusaders-Blues match. Josh Lord starred for the Chiefs in the first half before being replaced and locking partner Tupou Vaa’i finished strongly against the Reds.

Openside flanker: Who else? Leicester Faingaʻanuku’s remarkable display – carries, try assists with clever kicks, turnovers, lineout wins and more – have promoted him to a stage where, if Ardie Savea is missing, he may well earn the All Blacks No 7 jersey. That’s despite this column’s belief he was outpointed by Du’Plessis Kirifi the previous weekend.

Blindside flanker: Simon Parker (Chiefs) – good, all-round shift against the Reds and a battle against tough Queenslander Joe Brial. Just edges Ethan Blackadder’s gritty graft against the Blues.

No 8: Wallace Sititi (Chiefs) – back to his best with two tries and a performance underlining his clear and present danger on both sides of the ball. Made a game-high 21 tackles.

Halfback: Kyle Preston (Crusaders) – the sub outpointed starter Noah Hotham with a fine display after Hotham’s average-only outing, overshadowed by the Blues’ Sam Nock. Already a forgotten All Black at 26, Preston’s one test was a win against the Springboks last year and, on the strength of this, he could be back for more at some stage.

First five-eighths: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) – on a day when few of the No 10s shone, McKenzie won out with his command and execution.

Second five-eighths: Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders). Pips Quinn Tupaea, who played well but was outpointed by Wallabies midfielder Hunter Paisami in the first half. Tavatavanawai was instrumental (despite a harsh yellow card in an eccentric outing by referee Damon Murphy) in the win over the Waratahs – including a game-saving turnover in the final minutes.

Centre: Billy Proctor (Hurricanes). A creative match in the dismantling of Moana Pasifika – bridge passes, clever offloads and try assists aplenty.

Wings: Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders) and Josh Moorby (Hurricanes). Tangitau’s scorching pace, his ability to beat defenders and good use of a fend were all on display. An All Black in waiting. Moorby finished expertly for his four tries against Moana Pasifika.

Fullback: Isaac Hutchinson (Chiefs). Honourable mention to the Highlanders’ Jacob Ratumaitavaki-Kneepkens but Hutchinson prevails for some bold running in a round where too many outside backs (among them Caleb Clarke, Macca Springer and Sevu Reece) opted for kicks instead of backing themselves to beat defenders. Hutchinson (22), a former New Zealand Under-20s player, has speed and no little skill – one for the future.

Paul Lewis writes about rugby, cricket, league, football, yachting, golf, the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.