PNC to international honours

8 New Zealand players made their mark in the Pacific Nations Cup, now they have risen to pull on the real deal All Blacks jersey.

The hotly contested Pacific Nations Cup brings out the best in the teams of Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Japan; it has also seen Wallabies and All Blacks rise through this competition.

Last season Tom Donnelly, Victor Vito, Ben Franks, Aled de Malmanche, Alby Matherson, Israel Dagg, Rene Ranger and Colin Slade all played for the Junior All Blacks.

Victor Vito was pretty known for Sevens skill, the rest were prominent in their clubs and provinces, but far from NZ wide gossip getters from the general rugby fans watching the games in the stands and couches.

Oh what a taste of international rugby can do, and after shining in the PNC the next stop was in Mr Henry’s class of talent.

Becoming an All Black is a mighty hard act, maybe even harder is to stay an All Black. With performance on the pitch so important, there are always new people gunning for the cherished test jersey as well. Slip ups and bad performances can have you on the scrap heap of one-test players.

Colin Slade just today got the call up and will be thrust onto the reserve bench against the Wallabies in 10 days time. These 8 men are taking their chances; they range from grunt machines like Ben Franks and speed merchants like Dagg and Ranger.

It is evident though that Graham Henry is also banking on X factor extreme. Rene Ranger is a work in progress, probably the most raw of talent in the team, he possesses youth and mystery that is very alive and well in the club scene in NZ. Ranger is a tough nut that will have a crack at anything and most players in NZ admire his character, as they know & play men like him.

Tom Donnelly is the most unassuming of the lot. Vito is a star of Sevens and will be a star of 15s in time. Donnelly is the meat and potatoes of the All Blacks team. His core is to win lineouts and push with heart in the scrum, anything else is a bonus. Now he has 12 test starts under his belt and well on the way to becoming a must needed All Black come selection time.

Getting back to Mr Henry, after getting a beating last season he has taken the approach of offence rather than conservatism. Some of his calls have been to cast out the safe bet & wheel in the more attacking option. He has also breathed life into his trusted ones; Rokocoko & Mills in particular are playing better than they ever have. Mixing them with the new and flavorsome breed has been the root for success thus far in 2010.

As the season goes on, these 8 have in their hands a chance to glue an All Black jersey to their backs. Coming through the ranks of rugby, the PNC was the gateway and these men are stars to keep a firm eye on for the future of the Black jersey.