Is the NZ well of outside back talent drying up?

For a long time, the rugby playing world has envied the seemingly endless stream of talent that New Zealand has when it comes to outside backs.

In the professional era alone there is an almost incredible array of wings and fullbacks that includes the likes of John Kirwan, Jonah Lomu, Doug Howlett, Jeff Wilson, Christian Cullen, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Julian Savea, Ben Smith and Israel Dagg.

There is no nation that can boast half that kind of talent in the same time span but is that supply line finally coming to an end?

I ask this because I've just seen the latest additions to the All Black training squad and I see Richard Buckman's name. I thought maybe it was a joke or a misprint but no, it's true. He's in the All Black training squad for the Rugby Championship.

Got me thinking about who is going to step up and replace the likes of Dagg, Smith and Savea in a few years time when they retire and apart from Rieko Ioane, I'm coming up with blanks. If Richard Buckman is the next generation of All Black outside back then the Kiwis are headed back to earth with a very average and ordinary bump!

 rooi,

Buckman has been called as a center (though he can play in any of the centers and any of the outside backs),.... and he's like the 7th in the picking order,... he's not very skillful but he's a warrior,...


"Buckman, by way of Hawke's Bay, has forged a reputation as a tough, competitive, combative player capable of filling every role from midfield out if required.

The man nicknamed "Barracuda" is a success story for perseverance.

While a long list of midfielders, including the recalled Charlie Ngatai, remain ahead of Buckman in the pecking order, this is the first time he has firmly registered on the radar.

And with Fekitoa soon set to depart, the incentive is there to further push his case.

"He's a good utility player when you're thinking about World Cups and you've got a limited amount of people you can take," Hansen said.

"He can play in multiple positions; same as Charlie Ngatai. It's a great opportunity for us. We don't know a lot about him from a personal point of view. We've not had him in any of our camps before."

All Blacks squad for two-day camp:

Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Nathan Harris.

Props: Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

Locks: Dominic Bird, Tom Franklin, Brodie Retallick and Patrick Tuipulotu.

Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Ardie Savea and Liam Squire.

Backs

Halfbacks: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara and Aaron Smith.

First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Lima Sopoaga.

Midfielders: Richard Buckman, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai, Sonny Bill Williams.

Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.

"Hansen believes Damian McKenzie is also an option to play or at least cover halfback.

When Aaron Smith was sent home from South Africa last year, McKenzie spent time training as halfback cover in Durban.

"Damian is a very good rugby player. At the moment there is no clear and obvious third 10 and we know Waikato are going to play him at 10 which will be great and he's a goal kicker as well and a good one and he's been in fine form at 15.

"If you look beyond today and the World Cup he could be someone we get going at 10 and then maybe give him some training time, not so much game-time, at nine so he could be your third nine. He's got a big part to play in the All Blacks over the next few years there's no doubt about that."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11898097

many of these players will be sent to play NPC when the 10-15 saders players will be incorporated on Monday,... Buckman btwin them, supp osedly

Rooinek u should be concerned about SA players coming up and will be facing these dried up NZ outside backs.

 By the time the Crusader players are added to the list some of the above will fall by the wayside.  
It is still a better squad then any opposing countries can come up with whether opposing fans like it or not.    

 The wee ab backs have never been the same since Carol Jane went off the boil and wee Ben smith got concussed. They lost their ehem intimidation factor! 

Carol Jane was never the same after she got a haircut

 Whatever happened to Charles Piautau? Did he give up international honurs for the Europe gravy train? Is a shame as I alway s rated him 

 
Yes ... I agree.

The Kiwis would like to believe that they have a production line pumping out superstars all day long... but in truth they don't.

We've already seen the decline of their backline.

Nonu, Smith and Carter left big gaping holes and even though the Kiwis thought they'd simply replace them with stars from their production line, it hasn't quite worked out like that.

Their dismal showing aganst the British and Irish Lions brought to light their dilemma.

Look at Cane. He's no where near the old man McCaw's standard.

The Bulls in their heyday had the same arrogance. Look at them now.

 Still when it comes to netball rugby the kiwis do pretty well and their skills are good.  Only the Lions display those sort of skills and one can only wonder why the others don' t get going faster..

 Well we won back to back RWC (without ref assistance) and we are rebuilding towards the next RWC. 
New players will be found and tested and the more experienced players will be double checked to see if they still have what it takes. No need to panic, players like Laumape are new and exciting, we also have Skud coming back and J. Barrett who can play outside and bring a high skill set.