Five problem areas where the All Blacks are desperately searching for solutions
Since New Zealand’s loss to South Africa in Wellington last year, the All Blacks have played top teams six times.
They managed to pip the Springboks in the return match in Pretoria – but were probably lucky to escape with the victory after falling behind 30-13.
On the end of year tour, New Zealand disposed of the Wallabies (37-20) then scraped through against England (16-15) and were suffocated by Ireland (16-9).
Now the All Blacks have failed to secure wins in two matches in a row. South Africa came to Wellington and held New Zealand to a draw, then over the weekend Australia absolutely demolished the men in black.
The All Blacks have two games to go before the World Cup, which means there’s very little time left to right the ship.
Second-choice second row
It will take a remarkable recovery for Brodie Retallick to be fit for the World Cup. Even if he does make it on the plane, he’s going to be seriously lacking in match fitness.
If Retallick is fit then the All Blacks will probably make do with him, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett. Retallick will need to buckle down and play in all four of New Zealand’s pool matches to get himself ready for the big games.
In the worst-case scenario, New Zealand will need a replacement for Retallick. Patrick Tuipulotu does not look like the man to fill that role. Jackson Hemopo is the next cab off the rank but has had precious little game time for the All Blacks to date. One of Tuipulotu or Hemopo needs to start against Australia this weekend – even if Barrett is free to play after his sending off. We need to see which of these two is better suited to travel to Japan, because neither of the two look up to it right now.
Selections and balance in the back row
The Ardie Savea-Sam Cane-Kieran Read axis never really got the chance to show their wares on Saturday night. The trio functioned well enough in the first half but the All Blacks were always under the pump and had precious little possession. Once Barrett was sent from the field, it became impossible to gauge the combination’s strengths. Steve Hansen won’t have dropped this idea after just one week – but there’s little time left to see if it’s a legitimate option moving forward.
Liam Squire suited up for Tasman over the weekend and looked solid upon his return. He only managed two-thirds of a game, however, and looked absolutely gassed when he left the field. Squire withdrew himself from selection, saying he wasn’t ready to play international football. Has his mindset changed over the last month? And if Squire does feel like he’s ready to play, will that be enough for Hansen to select him in the World Cup squad.
The gut says that Squire will travel to Japan if he thinks he’s ready. That decision will likely be made sometime next weekend.
Luke Jacobson was one of the somewhat surprise inclusions when Steve Hansen named his first squad of the year. He also retained his place when the squad was trimmed, despite having only played 15 minutes off the bench against Argentina.
Perhaps Jacobson would have been in line to start against the Wallabies over the weekend if he wasn’t afflicted by concussion symptoms. If Jacobson is fit and ready to play in next week’s match then it would make sense for the Waikato loosie to get a start on the blindside flank. If he’s still dealing with concussion, however, then he’ll likely be culled from the team when the World Cup squad is announced.
Prop mobility
Angus Ta’avao, Atu Moli and Ofa Tu’ungafasi were ostensibly retained ahead of Karl Tu’inukuafe because they’re considerably more mobile around the pitch.
That seems like an unusual justification, given that Owen Franks is one of the least mobile props doing the rounds in international rugby. He’s good around the fringes of the ruck, hits the breakdown well and tackles his heart out – but don’t expect the big fella to make much headway on attack.
Franks isn’t going to lose his starting jersey anytime soon, however, because he’s a staple of the All Blacks front row. The current back-ups are too inexperienced and simply aren’t strong enough in the set-piece to be starting against the likes of Cian Healy and Mako Vunipola.
The All Blacks are seriously missing Charlie Faumuina all of a sudden. He was reliable in the scrums and had no issues getting around the park.
It’s too late in the piece to play with the front row now – but it could end up being one of the All Blacks’ weaknesses come the World Cup.
The midfield puzzle
The Anton Lienert-Brown/Jack Goodhue combination never got the chance to shine over the weekend before Goodhue was helped from the field. There’s a good chance we won’t see the Northlander back for next weekend’s match.
We started the year without knowing what the first-choice midfield combination was – and we’re no closer to determining it now.
Lienert-Brown was one of the All Blacks’ best on the park against the Wallabies and took his chances well. His hot-stepping is probably better utilised off the bench, however.
That leaves Sonny Bill Williams and Ngani Laumape – two specialist second fives who have fairly different skill sets.
Amongst these five, the All Blacks need to find a proper combination and give them some game time together. If either Crotty or Goodhue are part of that first-choice duo then they’re likely not going to be able to play until the match against Tonga next month. Again, the All Blacks are running out of time.
What’s happened to the outside backs?
There were a lot of selection conundrums heading into 2019. One certainty, however, was that Rieko Ioane and Ben Smith would make up two-thirds of New Zealand’s back three.
That belief has now been shattered.
Ioane has lost all the form that made him an international sensation and seems disinterested in finding it again. Smith is Mr Reliable, but the All Blacks really need some more X-factor in their backline – because reliability and safety isn’t finding them much luck.
Sevu Reece and Braydon Ennor are waiting on the sidelines for a chance to prove themselves – and at least one of those two should get a start in the next match. Perhaps Smith will move to fullback, which could open up spaces on both wings. Either way, these two young men need to be thrown in the deep end. There was no point in selecting them in the narrowed down squad if they weren’t going to get any game time, after all.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
3 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to comments