By WYNNE GRAY
Halfway through the Super 12, Deon Muir has shown he is the form New Zealand No 8 and would captain a hypothetical All Black side.
While Anton Oliver makes the suppositional side and will be a frontrunner for All Black skipper when that team are picked late next month, Muir's leadership and play have been inspirational.
Various criteria apply to this mythical All Black selection.
They are not a team to send into the test arena; they are a side reflecting the best performances so far in the 2001 season.
The essential ingredient is form - current playing standards, not the historical excellence of some like Jonah Lomu or Christian Cullen nor the potential of others. One encouraging game from Cullen this weekend does not edge him ahead of the consistent Leon MacDonald or Loki Crichton.
To be considered, players must have had at least a couple of games, while others like Aisea Tuilevu, who might have nudged the best XV, are ineligible, as are Kevin Yates and Afato So'oalo.
The most difficult choice is in midfield. Few second five-eighths have made regular impressions like the neat breaks Paul Steinmetz provided in his twin outings for the Hurricanes.
But for consistent, mistake-free footy, Mark Ranby has been a solid contributor to the Chiefs' backline progress and at this stage is ahead of Daryl Gibson or Pita Alatini.
Ranby's team-mate Crichton is just edged out by MacDonald, while the Chiefs' powerful centre Keith Lowen, first five-eighths Glen Jackson and wing Roger Randle all get the same treatment from Tana Umaga, David Holwell and two Blues wings.
The Blues have been tame but wings Mils Muliaina and Doug Howlett have been sharp.
Twice Muliaina scored superb late tries to win games for the Blues, while his general play was also very sound before he was injured.
Regular All Black halfback Justin Marshall has started strongly and staves off challenges from Mark Robinson and Jason Spice.
Muir has brought plenty of breadth to his play on defence and in the tight work to see off Samiu Vahafolau's explosive touches, while Filo Tiatia and Ron Cribb have been too erratic.
The dynamism of Rodney So'oialo has him leading the candidates to replace Josh Kronfeld in the national No 7 jersey. The 21-year-old has great speed, brutal defence and is a quality digger at the breakdowns.
He makes things happen and rates ahead of Marty Holah, Scott Robertson and Matua Parkinson.
On the other flank, the decision is very close between Reuben Thorne or Jerry Collins.
The latter is the more effective attacker but Thorne's enormous unselfish work-rate is being missed by the Crusaders now he is on the injured list.
The locking choice is Royce Willis or Dion Waller at the front of the lineout, with Chris Jack or Mark Cooksley in the middle.
Willis' power on defence and mobility give him the nod, while the massive Jack has been the best of the Crusaders' resources.
Oliver is the best hooker but his two former test props at the Highlanders, Carl Hoeft and Kees Meeuws, have disappointed.
However, team-mate Carl Hayman has shown strong form on both sides of the scrum and gets the loosehead job ahead of Hoeft and Deacon Manu, while Greg Somerville canters home on the tighthead side.
It is a selection to give you quivers if it had to play as the All Blacks.
Usually the best halfway XV have substantial changes by the end of the series but if this XV are still the best at the end of May, rugby discussion will be feverish.
2001 Super 12 schedule/results
New Zealand's Super 12 squads
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