The next All Blacks bolter?

As is the case every year, huge intrigue within the New Zealand rugby fraternity will surround the announcement of the All Blacks squad ahead of their clash against France in the June test window.

The first squad named for the international calendar by coach Steve Hansen holds particular significance for Kiwi rugby followers, as the June series acts as a direct reward for uncapped players who have stood out in Super Rugby to get their first crack at test rugby.

As a result, there is often the inclusion of players who would not have even been considered as an All Blacks prospect by the vast majority of onlookers before Super Rugby kicked-off four months prior.

These players are known as ‘bolters’, and they have been prevalent in every All Blacks squad named for the June test series over the past few seasons.

In 2012, the likes of Ben Tameifuna and Aaron Smith received their first call ups in June, while a year later, it was Ben Afeaki and Francis Saili who made the cut after being relative no-names in February that year.

2014 saw the introductions of Malakai Fekitoa and Patrick Tuipulotu to take on England, and in 2015, an enlarged 41-man squad to play in Samoa and the Rugby Championship included a plethora of previously unheralded talent such as Codie Taylor, James Broadhurst, Lima Sopoaga, Nehe Milner-Skudder, and Waisake Naholo.

The trend has continued through into the new World Cup cycle, with Liam Squire and Ngani Laumape being the uncapped duo from 2016 and 2017 that were named for the two June series that many would not have picked for their national sides at the turn of the new year.

With a new June test window approaching, there will no doubt be room for a new player in Hansen’s side that few would have regarded as All Black material just a matter of weeks ago.

So, it begs the question: who will be the All Blacks bolter named for their three-match series against France later this year?

We may only be knocking on the door of the sixth round of this year’s Super Rugby campaign, but there have already been some standout showings by uncapped players across the country.

Michael Collins continues to evolve in his role as one of the key communicators in the Blues backline from fullback, while Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi has ousted Brad Weber to start at halfback in the Chiefs’ clash against the Sunwolves this weekend, as the national scrap for the All Blacks’ third halfback spot begins to heat up.

Alex Fidow is slowly emerging as an Asafo Aumua-like front rower for the Hurricanes, which is the sort of ability that could make the youngster an integral part of the All Blacks set-up in the coming years.

At the Crusaders, Jordan Taufua has extended his contract to stay in New Zealand for another two seasons beyond 2018, as he looks to push for an All Blacks spot post-Rugby World Cup 2019, which is an aspiration he may not be too far off from achieving.

But while these players continue to fight for higher honours, there has been one player that has stood out amongst the rest to make himself a key contender to be the bolter of the first All Blacks squad of 2018.

Rob Thompson has made himself a staple of the Highlanders’ backline in their first three outings of Super Rugby 2018, with the midfielder making a statement in the number 13 jersey early in the campaign.

The departure of Malakai Fekitoa to Toulon created a vacancy at centre for the Dunedin-based franchise, and being part of a squad that consists of a variety of evenly-matched midfielders, Thompson needed to assert his authority over the jersey.

Plenty of fans expected 2016 Highlanders Players’ Player of the Year Matt Faddes to assume the role of centre at the beginning of the year, but it was Thompson that was named at 13 for their season-opening match against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 23.

Alongside inexperienced second-five Tei Walden, the new Highlanders duo ripped apart the opposition defence, with Thompson far exceeding expectations.

The Cantabrian ran for an impressive 75 metres, set up Walden for one of his two tries from a chip and chase set play, and bagged two tries for himself. The second of his brace of tries was particularly memorable, as he exposed the Blues’ weak ruck defence en route to galloping half the field to send the home crowd into raptures.

He proved that performance was no fluke a fortnight later in the Highlanders’ second match against the Stormers in Dunedin.

Pairing up with Walden again, the 26-year-old exploited the South African defence on multiple occasions, beating seven would-be defenders to notch 92 metres with ball in hand, before setting up Naholo for his try.

The streak rolled on through to last week, when he outplayed Crusaders midfielder Jack Goodhue, a player the All Blacks selectors have big wraps on. His pair of clean breaks and defensive solidarity helped the Highlanders defeat their southern rivals 25-17.

As a result, the Highlanders remain the league’s only undefeated club heading into their meeting with the Hurricanes in Wellington this weekend, and a large reason for that is the exceptional work of Thompson.

While Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, and Goodhue are blocking his path into the national squad, Thompson could become too irresistible of a prospect to leave out of Hansen’s squad, should he continue to deliver for the Highlanders for the duration of the competition.

Only time will tell whether he’ll be able to sustain this golden run of form, but in terms of potential bolters to spring a surprise on the French in three months’ time, Thompson is a player worth keeping an eye on.