Tamaiti Williams

Tamaiti Williams is the largest loosehead prop New Zealand have picked in the professional era and has spent his short Test career proving that the size is not the point.

The scrum is legitimate — he holds his side against experienced tightheads, which is not usually true of a young loosehead — but what got him selected was the work around the field. He carries with genuine footwork for a man his size, and his cleanout is fast enough that the All Blacks can play their preferred tempo with him on the field.

Conditioning was the early question and he has answered it. The minutes he plays now are Test minutes, not a cameo before the bench arrives.

Injuries have interrupted more than New Zealand would like at this stage of a career.

The All Blacks have not had a settled loosehead for several cycles. On current evidence they have found one, provided he stays on the field.