On a wing and a prayer for All Blacks places

Competition is hotting up on the wing for New Zealand as the All Blacks prepare to take on Argentina at Eden Park on Sunday, and the rivalry has been given some spice with some friendly fire between the players vying for the spots in coach Graham Henry’s starting XV.
With the likes of Cory Jane, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams and Zac Guildford all proving their credentials out wide, Henry is spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing his men on the wings.

"So many of the outside backs have played really well so far in this tournament,” Kahui said. “Whoever's been given the opportunity has taken it.”

At 190cm tall and weighing in the triple figures, the 26-year-old from Waikato is the biggest wing in the New Zealand squad, but Kahui doesn’t believe his bulk gives him any kind of advantage over his smaller colleagues when it comes to selection.

“I don't think size matters too much. Hopefully it's a 103kg centre come winger. But maybe not, maybe it's the... what are you? 74kg ...,” he smiled as he glanced across to Cory Jane.

Despite the jovial banter, the competition for a place in Sunday’s quarter-final remains fierce, something assistant coach Wayne Smith feels puts the team in good stead.

Exciting forays

"You want competition for spots,” he said. “I think it's been a characteristic of this team that as players have been under pressure, they've got an opportunity, they've generally nailed it.

“And it's certainly turned the outside back position into a bit more of a contest. It's good for us."

While traditionally starting at centre, Sonny Bill Williams also has credentials to play on the wing following his exciting forays out wide against Japan and France.

Williams scored three tries coming off the bench to replace Cory Jane, though he says he’s happy anywhere on the park.

"Before coming into this tournament I'd never played wing in my life,” he said. “I find it quite refreshing because obviously you've got to cover, do your core roles and that's cover the fullbacks, backs and cover that space out wide. But it's more of an instinct game and I find that really refreshing too, being free to run.

“But I’ll play anywhere, bro.”

After looking destined to perhaps spend Rugby World Cup 2011 in the stands, Zac Guildford wasted no time throwing his name into the selection mix when given the opportunity in New Zealand’s final pool match against Canada.

Maintaining pressure

Despite scoring four tries in the match, the 22-year-old is keeping things in perspective.

"I was pretty happy with my game but there are always things to work on,” Guildford said. “If I can keep the pressure on the guys who've been starting in the previous weeks it would be good."

While Cory Jane is one such man under pressure following Guildford’s stellar outing, he believes the extra competition simply makes the All Blacks stronger.

"It was good,” Jane said. “I talked to him during the week and I said 'I want you to go out there and have a blinder and score lots of tries so it makes the coaches rethink'.”

“It's good for the squad as well. Everyone's playing well and trying to fight for that spot."