'A little bit of a mixed bag': How the All Blacks' inexperienced props sized up
When the All Blacks named their first squad for 2022, there were two somewhat surprising inclusions in the front row.
Karl Tu’inukuafe – regarded as perhaps the best scrummager in New Zealand – was the biggest shock, given the 29-year-old is heading overseas later this year and had only featured in small bursts for the Blues this year while his Super Rugby teammate, Nepo Laulala, was also considered as somewhat of a lucky inclusion, given the comments over the past few years out of the national selectors that props need to be more dynamic around the park. Laulala, for all his abilities at the set-piece, is certainly not an explosive player and despite his experience, was assumed to be falling down the pecking order.
Head coach Ian Foster ostensibly justified both selections in one fell swoop, however.
“Ireland are a very, very strong team, strong set-piece team,” he said at the time.
“If you look at our looseheads with George [Bower] and Aidan [Ross], very consistent scrummagers, very reliable in that space but relatively new at the international level and that swung it around for Karl Tu’inukuafe’s selection.
“He is our strongest loosehead scrummager and we think for right now, he’s the best way to support the other two front-rowers.”
Come the first test between New Zealand and Ireland, however, neither Tu’inukuafe nor Laulala were anywhere to be found in the starting line-up. Instead, the “inexperienced” Bower was named to square up with arguably the best tighthead prop in the world, Tadhg Furlong, and Ofa Tuungafasi was given the nod in the No 3 jersey.
Bower, ahead of the clash, boasted just 11 test caps to his name – and just five starts. Tuungafasi, meanwhile, has had plenty of experience in the black jersey and is nearing a half-century of appearances but has made just six as the starting tighthead.
Against the likes of Andrew Porter and Furlong, however, Bower and Tuungafasi more than held their own. The first two scrum penalties of the game went Tuungafasi’s way and although the scrum was unstable at the best of times, momentum certainly seemed to favour the All Blacks.
Still, NZ captain Sam Cane acknowledged after the eventual 42-19 victory that there was still plenty of work to be done in the set-piece.
“Obviously, we wanted to front up at the set-piece first and foremost and then collisions,” he said after the match. “Our set-piece was a little bit of a mixed bag; I think we probably had a little bit of scrum dominance at times but still not quite where we want it to be. But it was a good start and we’ll identify a few things in there no doubt and look to get better next week.”
Bower, who saw 60 minutes of action at Eden Park, echoed Cane’s sentiments.
“[There were] a few good pictures there that we got today but also a few key learnings that we can take away,” said the 30-year-old. “I just have a feeling in that second test, they’ll just come hissing and they’ll definitely pick up their game and pick up their set-piece.
“We knew we had to pressure their source there, which was their scrum and lineout, and there were a few times we did – but there was obviously a few times we could have been better in areas there.”
With first-choice loosehead Joe Moody out for the year, Bower now has the opportunity to lock down a place in the matchday 23 ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup. With the likes of Aidan Ross and Ethan de Groot snapping at his heels at the national level, however, and Tu’inukuafe remaining on standby, there are no guarantees.
Tuungafasi, meanwhile, is competing with Ta’avao and Laulala – and Tyrel Lomax has also temporarily joined the squad as cover for Laulala who, as it turns out is suffering from a sore neck.
The All Blacks will take on Ireland in their second of three tests at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin next Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments