NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has dismissed suspicion over All Blacks tampering with Super Rugby Pacific selections.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney has admitted he was coerced by new national coach Scott Robertson into naming utility David Havili at first-five, so the All Blacks selectors could assess his ability to play that position at international level.
"If we could slip him in there, they'd be very appreciative," said Penney.
The defending Super Rugby champions have struggled at the No.10 jersey, since All Blacks incumbent Richie Mo'unga heading offshore to play for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus, with Havili previous reluctant to shift from the midfield, where he has become a regular in the NZ squad.
Robertson's suggestion also smacked of the national coach continuing to pull the strings of a team he guided to seven Super Rugby crowns, before his promotion to the national job, but Robinson brushes aside any suggestions of skulduggery.
"I wouldn't quite describe it that way," he insisted. "All Black coaches, for a long, long time, have had interactions with the franchise.
"In fact, it's been hugely positive, the feedback we've had from all the clubs over the level of involvement All Black coaches have had in our club environments. There's been a noticeable increase in the level of interaction there,
"Those conversations have always gone on and they will probably always continue to go on. We've got All Black coaches connected now with all our national teams, which is a really great positive step.
"I only see it as a positive and NZ Rugby sees it as a positive that the All Blacks management team are so invested in all levels of the game, as it relates to high performance. It's fantastic."
All Blacks coaching staff have begun visiting all the NZ franchises, as they collect their thoughts for their first international series against England and Fiji in July.
In reality, one of the overriding features of the NZ Rugby central contracting model is the ability to manage player resources across all levels of the game, including mandatory rest weeks through Super Rugby Pacific to avoid burnout.
Havili's shift to first-five suggests he is viewed as an option - not necessarily the leading option - at that spot and certainly enhances his value on an All Blacks reserves bench, with the ability to cover several positions across the backline.
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