It seemed that he was destined to break all sorts of records after scoring 10 test tries in his first full season as an All Black before his 21st birthday. It was a year where Ioane swept all before him.
Rieko Ioane, the pugnacious back whose error may have cost the All Blacks a win in the first Bledisloe Cup test, has earned the faith of coach Ian Foster and will start on the wing in the fourth clash against the Wallabies.
Hurricanes centre Peter Umaga-Jensen is in line for his test debut in the second Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies at Eden Park, after replacing Rieko Ioane on the bench.
Rieko Ioane may not get an immediate chance to make amends for his blunder in the first Bledisloe Cup test, with his status in doubt for the clash against Australia at Eden Park tomorrow.
Ross Karl, Bryn Hall and James Parsons talk all things Bledisloe I. The impact of Caleb Clarke, the calming influence of Dave Rennie and why no one kicked a blimmin' drop goal?! They get into the nitty gritty.
While much has been made of Rieko Ioane's infamous dropped ball over the tryline on Sunday, there is a key reason to retain him in the All Blacks side this weekend.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster is bitterly disappointed with the drawn opening Bledisloe Cup test but he refused to blame the result onĀ Rieko Ioane dropping the ballĀ over the line.
Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga'a will be thanking Rieko Ioane for sparing his blushes after the All Blacks midfielder was left red-faced in the closing stages of the first half.