Osborne for All Blacks?

Shuffling through the airport, his leg In a moon boot, he showed height and strength. He has just got off the long dreaded long flight from their South African Super 15 leg but looked perky - 'Bula' he uttered.

He is so humble to stop and speak to a fellow Fijian. That despite a long journey and a damaged ankle. That pretty much summarises Patrick Osborne - former Victorian.

He might just get a chance to play for the All Blacks in this 2014 test windowand I hope he does as he really deserves it. 

This from the Highlanders.

Osborne, who turns 27 on Saturday, trained with the All Blacks over the past couple of days and it was not simply to make up the numbers.

All Black assistant coach Ian Foster said Osborne was added to the squad for the coaching team to study him and as a possible option to play.

With Charles Piutau out because of a knee injury for a couple of months at least, and Julian Savea also struggling with a knee complaint there was a vacancy for a big strong winger.

''We had a couple of dings out there, a bit of uncertainty with Jules [Savea] and Izzy [fullback Israel Dagg],'' Foster said.

''In our mind we are pretty happy with what Patrick has shown in the last month. We will have a look at making a decision later in the week if we need a replacement or not.''

Local players sometimes join the All Black squad for a couple of days to make up the numbers but Osborne is more than that.

''He is a big strong winger. He has just shown some really nice stuff in the last month, He's shown a lot of power, been good under the high ball, improved on his defence. His instincts near the goal line are pretty good.''

With Ben Smith and Cory Jane starting on the wings last week, the side lacked a bit of size on the flanks but Foster was not faulting the duo.

''I think when you look at Ben and Cory last week we were pretty happy with what they did. It was just a lack of opportunity.

"That was our weakness in our game. If Jules gets banged up, Charles Piutau out, we do like to have a power option.''