The ideal starting All Blacks' XV for the Rugby Championship
The All Blacks‘ 36-man squad for The Rugby Championship has seven newcomers, including Chiefs flyer Shaun Stevenson who was subsequently drafted in to provide cover for Mark Telea, and late injury replacement Tevita Mafileo.
The All Blacks have five Tests to experiment before the Rugby World Cup so it makes sense to debut the newcomers to see how they perform at Test level.
Here is a hypothetical All Blacks 23 based on the needs of the selectors before the squad is cut down to 33 for the campaign in France.
15. Will Jordan
The All Blacks have a history of meddling with the fullback position in a World Cup year, sometimes with terrible results.
In 1999 Christian Cullen was moved to centre, in 2007 the same switch happened to Mils Muliaina. In 2019 Beauden Barrett was moved to No 15 at the 11th hour in order to accomodate Richie Mo’unga at first five. All three campaigns ended without World Cup success.
Jordan has been used as a right wing so far by the All Blacks but indifferent form from Beauden Barrett combined with Jordie Barrett’s move to No 12 presents a perfect time to hand the keys to the in-form Crusader. As a genuine fullback, this move for Jordan won’t be the same as the mistakes of the past.
14. Emoni Narawa
The Chiefs wing had a sublime Super Rugby campaign capped off by an impressive performance in the Super Rugby Pacific final. Given he was selected over Stevenson in the initial squad, he would be expected to get the nod ahead of his Chiefs’ teammate for a starting berth in the No 14 jersey. The All Blacks selectors will want to see if Narawa’s game translates well at Test level.
13. Rieko Ioane
After a great end to the 2022 season with the All Blacks, there is no reason to change or experiment at centre, particularly with Lienert-Brown out and no other player coming in. The more time for Ioane at centre the better, particularly as Jordie Barrett only moved to No 12 late in the year. The more Tests they get together, the better for the All Blacks, as they are out-and-out the best midfield combination available.
12. Jordie Barrett
Ditto for Barrett at second five, who took over the role in 2022 for three Tests against the Wallabies, Wales and England. He could do with a Test against Argentina and South Africa where he will be tested physically. The set-piece carries will hit different against the Boks compared to the Wallabies.
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku
The form wing in Super Rugby Pacific, Fainga’anuku deserves the chance to start ahead of Clarke. His attacking game is more complete with better distribution and offloading skills. Defensively, Ioane and Clarke haven’t clicked together either. That channel is the weakest in the All Black back line and needs fixing. The Crusaders found that in the semi-final with a smart line from Will Jordan who ghosted through. Fainga’anuku had his own defensive troubles against Ireland last year but is deserving of another shot.
10. Damian McKenzie
Despite lacking some game management smarts in the Super Rugby Pacific final, McKenzie was back near his best at No 10 for the Chiefs this season. He is the long-term option for the All Blacks at 10 and needs some game time before the World Cup just in case injuries strike. Defensively, he is better than Mo’unga, while hopefully Joe Schmidt can bring the best out of him in terms of controlling a game.
9. Cam Roigard
He’s been picked for a reason, now is the time to see what he has at the highest level. Aaron Smith is a known quantity and to a lesser degree so is Finlay Christie. Roigard needs to have a Test or two in the All Blacks system if he is a genuine prospect for the World Cup squad over Brad Weber or Folau Fakatava, who have been picked in the XV squad. Roigard should start two of the three Tests.
8. Luke Jacobson
The Chiefs No 8 has been selected for the first time since 2021 off the back of strong Super Rugby Pacific form. Jacobson must start against the Springboks to test himself against one of the strongest loose forward units in the game. Ideally he would play the Pumas as well, who have another formidable back row with Pablo Matera. Savea does not need to start a lot, and some load management wouldn’t go amiss.
7. Sam Cane (c)
Nothing is going to stop Cane from captaining the All Blacks this year, which means he needs to be on the pitch during the Rugby Championship to lead a side with a number of inexperienced players. He had consistent form with the Chiefs despite the yellow card in the final. Cane has to start all three Tests in the Championship.
6. Scott Barrett
Barrett has played most of the Crusaders season at lock, but is clearly in Foster’s World Cup plans as a blindside flanker. Some more starts at No 6 will prepare Barrett well for a Test season where he will likely feature across the loosies and second row. Frizell is a known quantity but Samipeni Finau might find a debut off the bench at some stage.
5. Tupou Vaa’i/Josh Lord
Either of the Chiefs locks can do with a start, particularly Lord who continues to be selected despite a lack of game time. Sam Whitelock should be rested for almost the entire campaign, and perhaps be eased back into it in August for the second Bledisloe and warm-up Tests. Vaa’i or Lord can use the valuable game time.
4. Brodie Retallick
Retallick brings the experience with Whitelock nursing the Achilles injury back to health. Although he had back luck in the last World Cup year when he suffered a shoulder injury against the Springboks in 2019 during the Rugby Championship. He made it back for the World Cup but wasn’t quite fully fit, so he will be hoping this time around to stay healthy.
3. Tyrel Lomax
After rising to become the first choice tighthead last year, Lomax should continue to start along with the rest of the new look front row that went undefeated over the final seven Tests in 2022. Although the All Blacks have a depth crisis up front, there is no point wrapping the front row up in cotton wool who are all mid-20s and in their prime. Tamaiti Williams as an impact player off the bench will give the All Blacks a boost and solid 1-2 punch with Lomax.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
Without Ardie Savea or Akira Ioane in the starting line-up, Taukei’aho is needed as a ball carrier aside from the fact he is the best hooker. He is one of the strongest in the team at generating front foot ball. Has to play.
1. Ethan de Groot
At times the Highlanders prop did not look in good form this year, but he was a revelation for the All Blacks in 2022 so until he has a poor showing in the black jersey must be picked. De Groot can mix it with any pack and was instrumental in bringing down the Boks last season.
Bench
16. Codie Taylor
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
18. Tamaiti Williams
19. Lord/Vaa’i
20. Papalii/Finau/Savea
21. Aaron Smith
22. Richie Mo’unga/Beauden Barrett
23. Shaun Stevenson
Comments on RugbyPass
guys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
1 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
227 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to comments