Rugby: Blair has flair to make the grade

New Zealand A captain Tom Willis has earmarked full-back Ben Blair as a player for the future with the All Blacks.

Blair, 22, who plays for Canterbury, scored 38 points on his debut in the 43-30 A team win over Ireland last week.

But Willis insists that there is more to come from the exciting Kiwi prospect ahead of his second cap against Scotland A.

Willis said: ‘‘Ben is a very exciting player. He’s very skilful and a great goal kicker.

‘‘He has a good eye for a scoring opportunity and is developing very well in the A team.

‘‘He is certainly a player to keep an eye on and will be pushing players in the full squad.’’

Blair was one of nine All Black debutants in Belfast last week and New Zealand head coach John Mitchell has rewarded the players involved by naming the same team for the match in Perth.

Now Willis believes that the developing team can benefit from the unchanged starting line-up.

Willis said: ‘‘It develops consistency in the side and helps the combinations which were established in Belfast last week.

‘‘We are looking to improve and, if we had had a few changes, that may perhaps have hindered that.

‘‘It is a very exciting time for me just being here. But, with the new coaching staff and new players, it is an exciting era.

‘‘We have all been given this great opportunity to learn from John Mitchell and he is really leading the way for us.’’

But the Otago hooker is expecting a difficult game in Perth tonight, where Scottish squad players will be looking to emphasise their claims for a starting place in the full international team on Saturday.

Willis said: ‘‘Some of the Scottish A players may well think that they are in with a chance of a Test place so they will be giving it their best shot and restoring pride to Scottish rugby.

‘‘We know that their A team beat Argentina last week and we all know how strong the South Americans are at the moment.’’