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All Blacks boss Ian Foster explains team selection for Wales test
As expected, the All Blacks have named a full-strength, or as close to full-strength as possible, team to face Wales in their first test of the European leg of their end-of-year tour this weekend.
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The vast majority of those predicted to feature in Ian Foster’s starting XV, and on the bench, have been named to play in Cardiff on Sunday [NZT] as the Kiwis aim to extend their unbeaten run against Wales beyond 68 years.
In saying that, however, there are still notable selection decisions evident throughout New Zealand’s run-on side, namely in the loose forwards, an area of the All Blacks squad that has come under the microscope in recent times.
As it stands, the All Blacks have eight back rowers on deck as part of an enlarged roster designed to withstand the rigours of a three-month tour abroad.
By carrying eight loose forwards, the All Blacks currently have two, possibly three, more back rowers in their camp than they normally ever would.
With squads expected to shrink next year in the hope that travel and quarantine restrictions are eased in a post-Covid world, the pressure is very much on New Zealand’s loose forwards to retain their places in the national side in 2022.
Therefore, the selection of players in tests of significance like this week’s clash against Wales, and upcoming fixtures in Ireland and France, is a reflection of their standing in the national pecking order.
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That was always a given, but a particular sense of intrigue has surrounded the loose forwards given the return of incumbent captain Sam Cane from a six-month injury and Shannon Frizell, who has overcome visa issues to reunite with the squad.
Their additions to Foster’s squad has bloated his back row stocks, and pundits have been eager to see how he will fit them in amongst a cohort of loose forwards who have, for the most part, been spectacular in Cane’s and Frizell’s absence.
Considering their form and development growth this year, there is very little that separates Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Akira Ioane and Ethan Blackadder from joining Ardie Savea, the only certainty to start, in the match day team for major tests.
Factor in the seniority, leadership and experience of Cane, and it is clear to see how much of a dogfight there is to be picked as one of the three starting loose forwards, or to feature off the bench.
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It’s no surprise, then, that the first point of discussion at Friday’s [NZT] All Blacks team naming press conference was centred around the selection of Blackadder at blindside flanker and Papalii at openside to accompany Savea at No 8 against Wales.
Since the 2017 World Cup final in Belfast, England have played 34 tests. The world champion @BlackFerns have played just 11.@TheChaseRugby looks at the Black Ferns’ selection conundrum ahead of their 100th test ? #ENGvNZL #BlackFerns https://t.co/MyEu3I3aMu
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) October 29, 2021
In the lead-up to the end-of-year tests, it had been Ioane who stood as the preferred option in the No 6 jersey as he had formed an impressive combination with Papalii and Savea throughout the July tests and the Rugby Championship.
The 26-year-old had been particularly outstanding against the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup series, but has since been demoted to the bench in place of Blackadder after a pair of anonymous showings against the Springboks in recent weeks.
Likewise, the backing of Papalii’s youthful exuberance – after he missed the highly-anticipated tests against South Africa through injury – over Cane’s credentials at openside flanker also caught the eye, but Foster said both players are deserving of their starts.
“The selection process is pretty much the same as ordinary in terms of we just go through who we think is right to play,” Foster told reporters.
“We’ve really been delighted with Ethan, the way he’s progressing, and felt that he warranted a start. He’s filled a number of roles for us, but it’s a chance for him to really go out there and focus on his role at 6.
“Dalton had missed quite a bit of the Rugby Championship, came back through the States game last week and, again, he played really well at the start of the Rugby Championship and felt that he deserved a start here.”
Last week’s 104-14 thrashing of the USA Eagles in Washington DC paved the way for both Cane and veteran hooker Dane Coles to join Papalii in making their long-awaited test rugby comebacks.
Similarly to Cane, Coles had been out of action for two months due to a persistent calf injury, but he too has missed the cut to square off against the Welsh.
Instead, Foster has backed youngster Samisoni Taukei’aho to support incumbent rake Codie Taylor from off the bench in a selection move that indicates how much the former has progressed since his test debut against the Wallabies in August.
“It was just important to get some minutes under their belt. They’ve had a couple of really good training weeks,” Foster said of the performances of Cane and Coles at FedEx Field.
Let’s hope Wales hand the All Blacks a lineout bath in Cardiff because, on the basis of this year’s test schedule, New Zealand’s 2021 season is fast amounting to nothing.
?? @HamishBidwell https://t.co/RzCnGRb1fq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 28, 2021
“I think we flagged early on that we didn’t really want to be in a hurry to get them back into test match level until they’ve had a few solid weeks of training, so we’re just carrying out that plan, but that’s going according to plan at the moment, which is pleasing.”
In the backline, the ongoing battle for first-five supremacy has this week been won by Beauden Barrett as he celebrates his 100th test as an All Black.
Accounting for their form and respective talents, expect Barrett and Richie Mo’unga to alternate the No 10 jersey as the tour progresses, but the spotlight will be firmly cast on the former this week as he brings up a ton of caps for his country.
“He’s playing well. He’s been running this team for the last couple of months, and so we felt he deserved the opportunity,” Foster said of the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year.
“Clearly it’s his 100th test and I think he’s in a really good place to go and celebrate that with a game that really means a lot to him. It’s a big occasion in Wales, he’s on top of his game, so we’re really delighted with that selection.”
Despite his error-ridden effort off the pine against the USA, TJ Perenara has earned the nod at halfback ahead of Brad Weber in a move that Foster suggested has a sentimental element about it given his former halves partnership with Barrett at the Hurricanes.
“I don’t think TJ had his best 20 minutes in the States, but it was a very festival mood in that game by the time he got on,” Foster explained.
“Before that, we’d been really pleased with his game and we were delighted with Brad when he started against South Africa in that second test, so we’ve got three 9s who we think are playing well.
“This is our 11th test into this long year and it is a matter of just using our resources in the right way, so we’ve gauged the energy and the enthusiasm and just feel that that TJ-Beaudy relationship has been a strong one for a number of years and we’ve put a bit of confidence in it.”
The same can’t be said of Jordie Barrett’s selection at fullback, as Foster said he wouldn’t want to “disrespect” the 24-year-old by saying that he had been picked to play Wales purely on the basis that his brother was playing his 100th test.
Foster outlined that the younger Barrett had been selected more so because of his aerial and defensive attributes, which he feels will come in handy in a test that is expected to be played in soggy conditions under the open Principality Stadium roof.
Rieko Ioane’s selection on the left wing instead of at centre, meanwhile, comes as Foster aims to re-establish Anton Lienert-Brown’s midfield partnership with David Havili after the former missed some Rugby Championship tests with a hamstring injury.
All Blacks team to play Wales in Cardiff on Sunday [NZT]
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock (c)
6. Ethan Blackadder
7. Dalton Papalii
8. Ardie Savea
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Rieko Ioane
12. David Havili
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Will Jordan
15. Jordie Barrett
Reserves:
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Tupou Vaa’i
20. Akira Ioane
21. Brad Weber
22. Richie Mo’unga
23. Sevu Reece
Comments on RugbyPass
A lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments