By Matthew Brockett
WELLINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuter) - Zinzan Brooke says Taine Randell is the right man to replace him as the All Black number eight after he quits New Zealand rugby for English club Harlequins next year.
When Brooke this week announced he would play his last game for the All Blacks in 1997, coach John Hart said the gifted 54-test veteran would leave a ``horrendous gap'' in New Zealand's loose forward trio.
``There is no other player who has the range of skills in the loose forwards this fellow has,'' Hart said.
But Brooke told Reuters that Randell, who has played on the blindside flank for the All Blacks for most of the season, was capable of filling the imposing number eight's boots.
``People can underestimate Taine. He's been there since he was 17. The same year he was out of school he was in there playing provincial football with the likes of (former All Black number eight) Mike Brewer, and Mike Brewer is a quality player to learn the ropes from,'' Brooke said.
Randell had all the attributes of a good number eight. ``He's a very intelligent player, he's got the ball skills, he showed early on what he is capable of, and he's made the step up.''
Randell, who plays at number eight for provincial team Otago, took a concussed Brooke's position behind the All Black scrum in the first test of the season against Fiji, and then moved to the blindside flank when Michael Jones was injured.
With several other promising candidates waiting in the wings, Randell's promotion into the All Black loose forwards was a decision that many rugby commentators criticised at the time.
Brooke said when he was first promoted to the first-choice number eight position in 1990 at the expense of the great Buck Shelford, the public outcry had caused him a lot of anguish.
``The moment you pull the black jersey on, people analyse you more because of so many other people who have worn it with such distinction. Everyone compared me to Buck, they didn't actually worry about how Zinzan Brooke played the game.''
Of course, it is Brooke's unique flair and individuality that has distinguished him as one of the great New Zealand players during his 10-year All Black career.
And he noted that Randell's outstanding form in all eight tests played by the All Blacks this year had quickly silenced the critics.
``I was very confident of Taine making the step up when all the media had doubts about him,'' Brooke said.
``He had two years in the Super 12 and he was always going to be a very, very good player.''
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