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Ex-All Black predicts changes for second Bledisloe Cup match
Former All Blacks hooker James Parsons believes All Blacks head coach Ian Foster may make some changes to his lineup to face the Wallabies in Auckland this weekend.
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The All Blacks defeated the Wallabies 33-25 at Eden Park last Saturday, and while the hosts’ poor start and finish to the match has come under scrutiny this week, Parsons predicts minimal changes for this week’s re-match.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, the former two-test international said he believes Foster will keep faith in the majority of those who took to the field against the Australians three days ago.
“I think it’ll be fairly similar. For the most part, I think they were reasonably happy with the first 60. They’ve just got some discipline stuff to clean-up,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“As a whole, it was a pretty clinical performance for the most part, outside of that discipline.”
However, Parsons noted that there is some room for movement and personnel changes, particularly in the forward pack, where a change at hooker and more size in the loose forwards could be in the offing.
He said that Dane Coles, who was a late withdrawal from last week’s bench due to a calf injury, could be thrown into the mix, dependant on his fitness.
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The ex-Blues captain added that two-test youngster Asafo Aumua would benefit from some more exposure in the international arena after having only made one appearance off the bench against Tonga last month.
“A couple of changes, potentially depending on where Colesy is at, it might be easier to start him, get him to go all out, and then bring Codie [Taylor] off the bench, or he [Coles] might be out altogether and it’s just Codie and Asafo Aumua,” Parsons said.
“He [Aumua] was really effective for Wellington on the weekend, so after a pretty strong season, and I know Samisoni [Taukei’aho] has gone really well, but unleashing Asafo at some stage could be an exciting opportunity for them before heading away.”
In the loose forwards, Parsons suggested the impact of Luke Jacobson off the bench over the weekend might be enough to have swayed the All Blacks selectors to put him back into the starting side.
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Parsons also reserved praise for Akira Ioane’s direct play around the fringes of the ruck, which he said helped lead to David Havili’s and Damian McKenzie’s tries.
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“The loose forward trio I thought worked really well. It’s a good mix, but Luke was well-documented that he came off the bench and he made a hell of a lot of tackles, good running metres, so his impact might have been acknowledged,” Parsons said.
“Luke Jacobson comes back into it, potentially maybe at No 8 or how they see him if he can potentially go at 6, but the thing is we didn’t touch on those other tries where there were picks through the middle.
“I thought Akira did really well. He picked through the middle before David Havili scored in the corner, and then, before [Damian] McKenzie’s last one, they took the same philosophy.
“So, in and around those forwards, in and around that pick and go area, picking based on that, they might go for a bigger trio rather than the faster trio.”
Crusaders and Maori All Blacks halfback Bryn Hall, meanwhile, agreed with Parsons that Foster will make few, if any, alterations to his match day squad.
Hall did, however, predict potential changes in the tight five, as he believed his Crusaders teammate George Bower could swap places with Karl Tu’inukuafe.
The 29-year-old halfback added that Brodie Retallick might be replaced by either Scott Barrett, another late withdrawal from last week’s match due to illness, or Patrick Tuipulotu.
“I think they’ll be pretty loyal to the guys that did the job on the weekend,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“I think possibly there might be a change, maybe possibly bringing in big Karl, who I thought played pretty well when he came on.
“I think there’s a few scrum penalties with Georgie Bower in that test match, so they could possibly go with big Karl coming in.
Two All Blacks stars have vowed to produce a better performance against the Wallabies this weekend after stumbling to victory in last week’s Bledisloe Cup opener. #AllBlacks #Wallabies #BledisloeCup #RugbyChampionship #NZLvAUS https://t.co/DinPhpJHHm
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“We’ve got a great locking system, so whether Brodie or Sam might get a rest – Sam won’t get a rest, but whether they keep Brodie there and bring Scooter [Barrett] on or even Patty [Tuipulotu], who came in late.
“Those are a couple of positions I think that could change a little bit.”
Hall went on to reject the notion that Beauden Barrett will return to fullback for the first time this year as he spoke highly of incumbent No 15 Damian McKenzie.
“No, I reckon Beaudy is definitely just seen as a 10, and he’s said that as well, that he wants to play 10,” Hall said.
“I think if they do get in dire straits where there are a lot of injuries, then he could possibly come back there, but I’ve really enjoyed seeing Damo at the back.
“Previously, there was obviously Richie and Beauden working that dual role, but I think Damo’s done a really good job around that.
“He’s played a lot at 10 for the Chiefs this year and then coming back to 15 where he’s played most of his rugby as well, so I think he’s doing really, really well.
Hall also acknowledged the “energetic” efforts of All Blacks wing and his Crusaders teammate Sevu Reece in the opening Bledisloe Cup test.
“I thought Sevu was great on the weekend … Just how busy he is at working around the ball. He was in and around for that pick-and-go try,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“That’s been his massive trait that he wanted to work on this year, being able to be around the ball. He is just energetic everywhere.
It’s no wonder Richie Mo’unga was the star performer for the #AllBlacks on Saturday. Strong form and an attack built around your first five is a recipe for success. #NZLvAUShttps://t.co/a5qb818zgj
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“You can see even in counter-rucks. They’re setting up for kicks and he’s trying to counter-ruck and being able to show a lot of energy.
“Will Jordan might come back into the fold as well, who was great in those first couple of test matches.
“It’s a pretty settled back three with the way they’re performing pretty well, and if you’re going with how they’re performing and how they’re playing, there probably wouldn’t be many changes there.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Jake 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
11 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.
1 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
11 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
11 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
39 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
39 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to comments