Rugby Union

Have to say, with Codie Taylor possibly/probably injured Scott Robertson's team's Hooker selection strategy is looking very grim.

In the ABs he picked Taylor, Aumua & Bell. The latter looked ok when Taylor was rested in the first half of Super Rugby, but is very much a prospect, not anything like a guaranteed international player. And all 3 of them have had line out throwing troubles, particularly Aumua who has had issues for years.

Then in the AB XV he selected Brodie McAlister, Bradley Slater & Kurt Ekland. None of these 3 are starting Super Rugby hookers, Brodie McAlister was behind Taylor & Bell, Slater was behind Taukieaho, and Ekland was behind the Blues starting hooker Riccitelli.

Now, unless the latter has told NZR that he's intending to go overseas and try to qualify for Italy or something, not rating the championship winning hooker in the top 6 in New Zealand is just bizarre. He's not an especially flashy player, but has a high work rate and crucially does the key roles, particularly line out throwing, better than most other hookers in NZ.