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Folau Fakatava's injury has 'opened the door' for Brad Weber and TJ Perenara
Brad Weber will make his return to the international arena on for the first time this year on Saturday when the All Blacks take on Wales in Cardiff.
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The 31-year-old halfback had been an ever-present member of the side since 2016 but missed out on selection for New Zealand’s July series as well as the Rugby Championship, with Ian Foster plumping for two young guns to back-up Aaron Smith in the forms of Finlay Christie and Folau Fakatava.
While Christie made his Test debut last year, Fakatava was a new addition to the mix, and their inclusions alongside Smith saw Weber and fellow experienced operator TJ Perenara relegated from the squad.
Both halfbacks featured for the Maori All Blacks in mid-week fixtures against Ireland in July and were also selected in the inaugural All Blacks XV side which is currently touring Europe but a season-ending injury to Fakatava has seen Weber re-join the national side for their end-of-year tour, and his return to top-flight rugby will take another step forward at the Principality Stadium this weekend after being named on the bench.
“He’s played really well,” Foster said of Weber this week. “That 9 position was a tough selection [at the beginning of the season]. We really felt this was a year we wanted to have a good look at Folau in this camp and I guess he knocked out a couple of pretty experienced campaigners.
“With his injury, it’s opened the door for Brad and also TJ. TJ will be playing in the [All Blacks XV] this weekend and Brad with us.”
Foster didn’t have any specific advice for Weber regarding Saturday’s clash, simply noting that the Chiefs and Hawke’s Bay representative has been performing on the field already this season.
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“[He needs to] just carry on doing what he’s doing,” the head coach said. “We’ve given him a couple of things we wanted him to tidy up on. He’s a quality person and we kind of felt, look, he’s here, so we might as well get him in there.”
Christie was given the No 9 jersey for last weekend’s match with Japan and somewhat flattered to deceive – although it wouldn’t surprise to see the 27-year-old given another opportunity off the bench in the All Blacks’ remaining tour games against Scotland and England following Saturday’s skirmish in Cardiff.
Perenara, meanwhile, will don the starting halfback duties – and vice-captaincy responsibilities – for the All Blacks XV in Friday evening’s fixture against Ireland A while 21-year-old Cam Roigard will provide back-up off the bench.
With Fakatava likely to make a return to the field during next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season, the selectors could again struggle to whittle down their halfbacks to just three selections ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
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In the meantime, however, Weber will be eager to remind Foster and co that he’s still a strong option for the flagship tournament.
Saturday’s match is due to kick off at 3:15pm GMT.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments