All Blacks unlikely to experiment due to forced changes
With at least one major change already required to the All Blacks‘ match-day squad for their second test with Ireland on Saturday, head coach Ian Foster must now weight up the merits of any further rotation.
Delayed concussion symptoms mean the most experienced player in the country, second-rower Sam Whitelock, won’t feature at Forsyth Barr Stadium this weekend. With Whitelock unavailable, the next most senior lock in the squad, Brodie Retallick, is expected to take on lineout duties.
That means the big question for Foster is whether to shift Scott Barrett from blindside flanker into the second row.
Barrett’s selection in the No 6 jersey for the opening test of the series raised a few eyebrows, especially when Foster made no suggestion that it was a decision forced by injury. The All Blacks did confirm last week that Akira Ioane wasn’t 100 per cent fit but naming Barrett on the flank was ostensibly a tactical decision.
Barrett had a solid game in the unfamiliar role, throwing his body about with abandon and topping the tackle charts. There was enough to suggest that the 28-year-old deserves another shot in the position – but Whitelock’s unavailability could curtail any chance of that happening.
Having already lost Josh Lord to a season-ending injury, and with fellow youngster Tupou Vaa’i sidelined due to Covid, Barrett and Retallick are now the only two locks from the original squad who are fit and ready for selection. Patrick Tuipulotu has also joined the team as cover but it’s unlikely he would be rushed straight back into the starting side – which means Barrett’s experiment at No 6 might be over for the rest of the series, especially if Ioane is ready for action.
Even without Ioane on deck, however, Dalton Papalli or Pita Gus Sowakula could be called upon to start on the blindside. The latter would certainly be a more like-for-like replacement for Barrett but only made his test debut last week and has just a handful of matches on the side of the scrum, whereas the inclusion of Papalii would effectively see the All Blacks running with three openside flankers in tandem and might not bring the best balance to the game. The left-field solution could see Ardie Savea move from the back of the scrum to the side, into the role he filled throughout much of 2019, allowing Sowakula or Hoskins Sotutu to take over at number 8.
Elsewhere in the side, it’s the possible availability of Will Jordan, Jack Goodhue and David Havili – all following Covid – that could prompt the only other changes to the run-on team.
“There’s absolutely no pressure from the players, management, coaches, anyone for them to rush back in,” said captain Sam Cane of the returning trio. “They were on a bike yesterday with some sort of heart-rate monitor on measuring how they were responding to exercise so all the precautions are being taken there. The last thing anyone would want is to risk them getting long Covid so there’s no pressure and they’ll have a few boxes to tick during the week to be available.
Assuming their availability, Jordan was the first-choice No 14 last year and is now going head-to-head with Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sevu Reece for a spot on the wing. The former only made his debut against Ireland but didn’t look out of place at all, while Reece was one of the best players on the back for the All Blacks. With plenty more games to play this year, it could be that the All Blacks opt to ease Jordan back into action via the bench or give him another week off following his bout with Covid – which would also reward Fainga’anuku and Reece for their displays in the first test.
Similary, young midfield back Quinn Tupaea had the most composed showing of his short international career to date over the weekend and it would be a shame to replace him with either Goodhue or Havili in the No 12 jersey when things are starting to come right for the 23-year-old.
It could be that with both Beauden and Jordie Barrett likely for the run-on team, Foster opts to run without specialist flyhalf cover for the coming match, giving Jordan and one of the fit-again midfielders spots on the bench. Undoubtedly, Foster and his fellow selectors have gone into the three-match series with at least a loose plan of how to utilise all the troops and that would likely involve Richie Mo’unga getting a start in the third test, which means they can afford to flog Beauden Barrett for another 80 minutes before giving him a break in the final match of the series.
Without Sam Whitelock on deck, the second test will be expected to be a closer affair – and that means the All Blacks won’t want to make wholesalechanges to their team. With everyone in last week’s squad performing well, from No 1 through to No 23, it’s unlikely there will be many further changes to the lineup beyond Whitelock’s enforced absence and a shake-up in the loose forwards.
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments