Former All Black James Parsons believes that it is a case of three going into two when it comes to Dave Rennie’s centre selection for the start of the Test season.
The midfield partnership was a constant issue for Scott Robertson during his time in charge, despite retaining the services of Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane.
Both players were critical in helping New Zealand to the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but the decline in form of Ioane caused a significant issue for Robertson.
The 28-year-old was shifted to the wing at the start of 2025, with Billy Proctor taking the 13 shirt, before he was eventually dropped ahead of his move to Leinster.
Ioane has since played his best rugby in the 11 jersey for the Irish province and Parsons does not expect him to be considered at centre by Rennie.
The ex-Blues hooker feels Barrett has locked down the inside centre position given his superb form over the past year or so, but the question is who partners him.
Parsons thinks it should be the Chiefs’ Quinn Tupaea, despite only featuring in Super Rugby Pacific in the 13 jersey, with Proctor missing out on the starting XV.
“It’s hard because I don’t see a world where Quinn isn’t starting and I don’t see a world where Jordie isn’t starting. The fact that those two are playing so well, it’s a sad state of affairs for Billy but it’s good for the All Blacks and the selectors,” he said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“The beauty of Quinn is that he’s able to cover wing and it allows that 23 jersey – probably Billy Proctor – to take.
“I definitely think it’s a three-horse race but you’ve also got Anton Lienert-Brown, who will be coming back, and Rieko Ioane, who I’m not sure is in the conversation anymore, as he’s playing so much at wing and doing such a good job with Leinster.
“You feel it’s those three (Barrett, Tupaea and Proctor) in the 23 and how they mix and match them, we’ll find out.”
While current form is important, Parsons believes that how they perform in the highest pressure Super Rugby play-off games will play a crucial role in Test selection.
“Form comes and goes and I think where Dave will be looking most is finals footy,” he added.
“If you look at the Hurricanes over the last few years, even when the Blues won it that year, they were leading the comp a hell or a look but stumbled come finals time.
“If you compare it [to this year], they’re probably one from two in that situation; they beat the Crusaders at that sort of intensity but fell short against the Chiefs.
“I think home ground advantage is crucial for the Hurricanes and for individuals to push for those positions.”
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Former Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall, who joined Parsons on the show, agreed with the ex-front-rower over the selection of Barrett and Tupaea.
However, Hall believes that Proctor is a player that Rennie will take a shine to given what he offers off the ball.
“What excites me and what Dave Rennie does like is all the effort areas – all the hard work and all the one percenters,” he said.
“You look at [Josh] Moorby’s try and Billy Proctor beats that person in the high ball, gets the scraps and he’s a massive part of that Hurricanes team every single week.
“The big kick chases, all the stuff that requires a lot of hard work, he does that very well. That’s not to say Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea don’t do that, but if you’re talking about the midfield stocks, those are the three guys that are really standing out.
“You have to think right now, Jordie Barrett at 12, Quinn Tupaea [at 13], who’s had a great season, and Billy Proctor’s around that conversation as well.”
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