Ben Lam is good enough to make the All Blacks - Scotty Stevenson
Hurricanes winger Ben Lam has been a revelation this season, but looks unlikely to be in the All Black’s thinking for June. Scotty Stevenson discusses the reasons why, and what it says about how tough it is to make the team.
In Wellington, at least, they love him. Ben Lam, the big winger on the end of a superstar Hurricanes backline, is on course to make a mockery of his teammate Ngani Laumape’s season try-scoring record set last year. Laumape crossed for 15 tries in 2017. Ben Lam has scored 12 already, and it’s only May. That is his job, to finish what others have started, but that does not seem to be enough these days to take the next step up.
The All Blacks will play France in June, and while there is genuine concern about the lack of depth at loosehead prop – don’t be surprised if Wyatt Crockett’s ride into international retirement takes an abrupt U-turn – there are no such concerns with the outside backs. Jordie Barrett, Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie, and Waisake Naholo are all likely to feature against the French. There is the return of Nehe Milner-Skudder to consider, too.
So where does that leave Lam? Seemingly nowhere near selection, which is quite the conundrum to have. Some will look at the list of names above, shrug their shoulders and ask, “well, who would you leave out to make room for him?” It’s a fair question. Both Ioane and Naholo have performed well for the All Blacks, and with Jordie Barrett back in the mix, Ben Smith will likely move to wing on a permanent basis for the national side. It’s a case of five into four don’t go, and Lam is at best the fifth in this particular mix.
There are others coming through who the All Blacks are also running the eye over as they prepare for this upcoming series and the all-important World Cup season. Solomon Alaimalo has been dazzling for the Chiefs this year, and Manasa Mataele is making good on his potential at the Crusaders. Add to the mix players such as David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu and Matt Duffie and Lam’s pathway to test match rugby seems a damn sight tougher than his pathway to the Super Rugby try line.
It is understandable that for the year’s first series the All Blacks selectors would prefer to choose players that have already been in the system. They have not the time nor the inclination in June to be acclimatising too many new faces to what they consider a very unique set of norms, even if that player is on a scoring tear like very few before him.
What is less understandable is the chatter around Ben Lam’s supposed deficiencies on defence – claims that Hurricanes Coach Chris Boyd dismissed after Saturday night’s match against the Lions during which Lam scored a hat trick. If those deficiencies do exist, they are not measured in his tackling percentage which, at 82%, is above all but one of his Hurricanes backline team mates in a list of those who have made 20 or more tackles this year. That list includes Jordie Barrett (77%), Beauden Barrett (75%), and Ngani Laumape (72%), all of whom are considered guarantees for All Blacks selection.
Perhaps it is unfair to compare Ben Lam’s defensive percentage with those who are working much closer to the gain line, so it would pay to also benchmark him against other wingers who have been widely tipped to get the nod ahead of him this June. That list includes Waisake Naholo (76%) and Rieko Ioane (76%). In fairness, Ioane has played out of position for much of the season, so we need to allow for that in this exercise.
There is also the assertion in some quarters that Lam may not be working hard enough off the ball, but if that is true (and as we don’t have access to GPS numbers, we can’t make much of an empirical case against the claim) then he certainly makes up for it when he has the ball in his hands. Apart from scoring those 12 tries, he also is only bettered by just one New Zealand winger – Manasa Mataele – in average gain per carry. At 9.18 metres per carry, that’s an awful lot of momentum for a team to enjoy.
Oh, and there was that other chatter floating around that he is not so good under the high ball. I’m not entirely sure which teams are dumb enough to kick to him in the first place, or whether we also make mention here of overall turnover rate, but if so, here goes. Ben Lam has turned the ball over a staggering… two times. All year. If those two drops are from high kicks then it would be punitive to say he is no good at catching. In fact, it would be downright spurious.
Just to add some context, Lam has also won five turnovers, more than any winger bar Waisake Naholo, who has a net return of zero based on the fact he has also lost the ball eight times. Damian McKenzie has turned the ball over 21 times – the most of any New Zealand outside back, followed by Alaimalo (19). Also on the list of those who have lost the ball more than Ben Lam are: Jordie Barrett, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Matt Duffie, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Ben Smith and Seta Tamanivalu, otherwise known as every other player ahead of him in the All Blacks pecking order.
We all know that the All Blacks have their strategies in place for selection and are already a long way down the road as far as the French series is concerned. That Lam may not make it should not be cause for alarm, and should not dishearten the man himself. He will be able to accept whatever comes his way, except claims he’s not good enough. Because at another time, in another scenario, he most certainly would be.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments