Ex-All Blacks greats clash over team selections for Tonga test
A pair of former All Blacks greats, as well as an ex-Black Fern, have revealed who they believe should start for New Zealand in their first test this weekend.
The All Blacks will open their 2021 campaign with a clash against an under-strength Tongan side at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday before going on to play two test against Fiji over the following fortnight.
Much intrigue has surrounded the selection philosophy the All Blacks will adopt heading into the July test series, of which they are expected to dominate.
With 18 players in Ian Foster’s squad who have 10 test caps or fewer, there is a definite sense of inexperience within the current All Blacks squad, and with the next World Cup only two years away, Sir John Kirwan believes these tests are an opportunity to give those newbies more exposure at international level.
Speaking on The Breakdown earlier this week, Kirwan said powerhouse No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu is a prime example of a promising youngster who should be thrown into the mixer as early as this week to gain more experience.
Having only made his test debut last year, Sotutu has just five test caps to his name, and Kirwan believes the 22-year-old needs around 30 test caps by the time the 2023 World Cup kicks-off.
It’s for that reason, he said, that Sotutu should start at No. 8 this week ahead of the likes of Ardie Savea, who has been tipped by some as a possible long-term option at the back of the scrum, or impressive All Blacks returnee Luke Jacobson.
“Want to win a World Cup? You need an absolutely world-class, game-changing No. 8, and I think Ardie is an outstanding No. 8, but I think he’s a better 7 at that level,” Kirwan told The Breakdown.
“I reckon you’ve got to play Hoskins from now until the World Cup so he gets there with 30-odd test matches because I think his acceleration off the mark, his ability to take a bad scrum and get over the advantage line, his ability to do that [break the line] out wide is very special.
“Ardie can do that as well, but you imagine him on the right side [of the field] and Ardie on the left side in attack, on the fringes.
“I just think Ardie wants to play 7, your captain [Sam Cane] is out [due to injury] – just play him there.”
Kirwan’s comments came after ex-Black Ferns midfielder Hannah Porter outlined that she would like to see Savea utilised at No. 8 over the coming weeks.
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“I’d personally like to see him at 8 and start Dalton [Papalii] at 7 and put some fresh blood in there and put [Ethan] Blackadder at 6,” Porter, a two-time Women’s World Cup-winner, said.
The makeup of the All Blacks’ loose forward trio wasn’t the only point of discussion on The Breakdown as Kirwan, Porter and former All Blacks utility back Mils Muliaina debated who should start in New Zealand’s midfield.
The All Blacks have been ravaged by injury in that position, with last year’s starters Anton Lienert-Brown (elbow surgery, out for two-three tests) and Jack Goodhue (ruptured ACL, out for season) sidelined with various injuries.
Braydon Ennor has also been ruled out of the Tonga and Fiji tests due to appendicitis, while Ngani Laumape’s imminent departure to France leaves the All Blacks short-stocked in the 12 and 13 jerseys.
In their places, Foster has wing-turned-centre Rieko Ioane, three-test utility back David Havili and the uncapped Quinn Tupaea as his only fully fit players who have been listed as midfielders.
All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod last week suggested that outside back Jordie Barrett could also be used there as an emergency option, but Porter was adamant Havili and Ioane are now the first-choice midfield options.
“I think Havili and Rieko in the midfield, for me,” Porter said, three weeks after she told The Breakdown she would prefer to see Ioane on the wing prior to Lienert-Brown’s and Ennor’s injuries.
Muliaina, meanwhile, labelled New Zealand’s extensive injury list in the midfield as “a blessing in disguise” for Ioane, who has been vocal in his desire to play in the midfield rather than the wing but has only started one test at centre.
However, Muliaina expressed concerns over Havili’s and Ioane’s defensive sides of the game and how they will fare as midfield partners in test rugby.
“My only concern there is their defensive effort. How are they going to go? Who is going to be the person that dominates?” the 2011 World Cup winner said.
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“We love seeing this [Ioane’s attacking ability], we’ll see a lot of this against Tonga, his natural flair, being able to express himself and make busts, but from me, who’s going to be the person that defends and sits someone on their backside that we have always had for the All Blacks?
“This is a good chance now to do it against a Tongan team that will be direct and physical. That there will be what I’m looking for in terms of what we learn, but, the two guys together, I think now’s a good chance to mould that combination together.”
Kirwan agreed with Porter and Muliaina about selecting Ioane as a midfielder as he sees the 24-year-old as a long-term centre because of his “out-and-out pace”.
“I still think he’s getting to grips with the defensive line and just getting really confident,” Kirwan told The Breakdown.
“He’ll put a big hit on when he’s really, really confident defending at 12, where he’s got someone that he’s really confident with, and I think that could be Havili.
“Sometimes he tries a little bit too much on the outsides, so I’d like to see him attacking the inside channel a wee bit more, but he’s just got out-and-out pace.”
Muliaina, who played in the midfield and at fullback for the All Blacks, added that Ioane will become a more mature player and will grow into the centre role with more time in the position over the coming years.
“It takes a bit of maturity in that position, at centre, to understand what messages you need to feed into your second-five or your 10, compared to being out wide when you just waiting for the ball and saying, ‘Hey, there’s space’,” he said.
“Now you’ve got to organise, so he’s actually got to help organise and to give those messages to someone like Havili or [Richie] Mo’unga or a Barrett who’s in there, and that’s where maturity comes into it, and you can only gain that by playing that position.
“He’s had a couple of years now with the Blues, he’s taken on a leadership role, which I think is fantastic. Now is his chance to step up to the big time and grow that, and grow that in an environment that’s possibly been given to him because of the injuries.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI 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.
5 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 comments