Seta Tamanivalu, pictured in action for the All Blacks against Wales in Wellington on June 18, would add power to the Crusaders midfield.

The sight of the 100kg-plus Seta Tamanivalu lurking in the Crusaders' midfield won't just give opposition defenders something to think about next year.

Because the prospect of starting alongside three-test All Black Tamanivalu should also give his new team-mates plenty to mull over, especially if he can use his 104kg chassis to bust tackles in Super Rugby and create line breaks in the absence of powerful wing Nemani Nadolo who has since joined French club Montpellier.

Tamanivalu, 24, has been linked with the Crusaders after representing the Chiefs for the last two years. The news coincides with Robbie Fruean confirming he will join former Crusaders coaches Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson at English premiership club Bath, once he completes his duties with Hawke's Bay in the Mitre 10 Cup.

With Ryan Crotty continuing his long association with the club, new Crusaders coach Scott Robertson will have the chance to line-up two All Blacks in the midfield as well as former Wallaby Digby Ioane on the wing.

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Tamanivalu, who scored nine tries in 16 appearances for the Chiefs this year, made his international debut in the 39-21 win over Wales in Auckland on June 11. His next two appearances were against Wales in Wellington and the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington. However, he has since had his place in the squad taken by Chiefs team-mate Anton Lienert-Brown.

Makalaki Fekitoa, George Moala, Crotty and Lienert-Brown were selected in the All Blacks squad to travel for the two tests against Argentina and South Africa, leaving Tamanivalu to play for Taranaki in the ITM Cup.

This is not the first time the Crusaders have tried to sign Tamanivalu. Following his impressive form with Taranaki in 2014 they made a play for him, but lost out to the Chiefs because he wanted to get the opportunity to play alongside dual-international Sonny Bill Williams.

Robertson won't be short of options in terms of selecting second five-eighths and centres next year. In addition to being able to choose from Tamanivalu and Crotty, he will also have David Havili, Jack Goodhue and Sean Wainui at his disposal.

Robertson is now close to filling his roster for the 2017 season, with a back-up for All Blacks openside flanker Matt Todd a priority.

Meanwhile, Nadolo could soon be playing under New Zealander Vern Cotter at Montpellier. Reports in France have stated that Cotter, who has already announced he will leave his post as Scotland head coach next year, will replace ex-Springboks boss Jake White.

Cotter had been mooted as a possible candidate to replace Dave Rennie at the Chiefs, or Tony Brown at the Highlanders, when they leave their respective Super Rugby teams after the 2017 season. It now seems likely to will remain in the northern hemisphere.

Joe Schmidt, another mentioned as being short-listed for the Chiefs or Highlanders jobs, and to possibly join forces with his old coaching partner Cotter to lobby for the All Blacks job after the 2019 World Cup, is expected to remain with Ireland.