BACK IN BLACK?

All Blacks’ selectors may have a headache (a good one!) when finalising their choice of halfbacks for September’s Rugby World Cup. Among the options, Blues’ half, Finlay Christie, is making a solid case. Beyond Super Rugby, the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup should give him opportunities to impress.

“If I keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll have a chance,” the 14-cap All Black says. “I’m trying to focus on the Blues, but if I get that right, [All Black selection] might come. I’m trying to keep my goals and my thought process pretty short term – I think that’s the best way for me.”

The other ‘usual suspects’ for the nine jersey (Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Brad Weber) aren’t exactly giants, but they are all ‘big for their boots’, likely inclusions barring injury. And, with Cameron Roigard (Hurricanes) and even Finlay’s Blues’ teammate, Sam Nock (another Saint Kents’ prodigy), knocking on the selectors’ door, competition for World Cup spots is tight.

“[Smith, Perenara and Weber] have been ‘the guys’ for the last 10 years or so now,” Finlay says. “I definitely don’t expect anything. I need to earn everything and there’s a lot of good nines around the country at the moment so the competition’s going to be tough.”

The location of this year’s Rugby World Cup, France, may bring back grim memories of a certain calamitous cup, the 2007 edition. As in 2007, the All Blacks’ pool doesn’t appear too daunting this time, on paper at least. But the opener (against France) will see sparks fly as two heavyweights compete. And, later, a quarterfinal clash between the All Blacks and Scotland is not out of the question.

“Growing up, if Scotland was getting up against the All Blacks we’d be going for Scotland,” Finlay says. “But if the All Blacks were doing the business, then we’d be cheering for them.”

If the All Blacks field their ‘great Scot’ during such an encounter, it’s unlikely the Christie family’s loyalties will favour Scotland, however brave!