Anton Oliver: Where are all the All Blacks hookers?

Over the years, New Zealand have had an embarrassment of riches when it comes to picking players, but former captain Anton Oliver is worried about their obvious lack of hookers.
The All Blacks won the 2011 World Cup with their fourth choice fly-half while winger Cory Jane’s year-long injury last season was nearly forgotten with Ben Smith stepping up – out of position – to rack up 11 tries en route to being nominated for the IRB Player of the year.
But when it comes to the No.2 shirt, only 35-year-old Keven Mealamu and Hurricanes‘ Dane Coles seem to be up to Test standard and, with the 2015 World Cup looming large, this is a worrying situation for Oliver who won 59 caps in the position between 1997 and 2007.

“I jokingly sent a text to Steve Hansen a couple of months ago telling him that I’d help him out and play hooker for the All Blacks,” he told The Rugby Paper. “The situation is worrying. Keven will hopefully make the World Cup but if he or Dane goes down there doesn’t seem to be a third-choice waiting in the wings now Cory Flynn is off to Toulouse.
“It’s been an on-going issue for a while but no one is really putting their hands up. They will give them a shot but they need someone to state his case.”
Aside from the hookers, the All Blacks will also have to deal with the absence of Kieran Read who is yet to recover from a concussion he sustained two months ago.
Jerome Kaino wore the No.8 shirt against England in the first Test while Liam Messam and Victor Vito are also able to fill in, but the game plan cannot be the same without Read which the All Blacks will have to adapt to.
“We will find out in the next few weeks who will be the second choice No.8 with Kieran out,” Oliver added.
“Having him out will change the way the All Blacks play. Because he’s such a good runner, New Zealand tend to play a wider game with him joining the back line. They have a lot of moves incorporating him.”
Anton Oliver was speaking on behalf of QBE, the business insurance specialist, official insurance partner of England Rugby. Visit www.qberugby.com