'He's definitely playing well enough': Has Josh Ioane played himself back into the All Blacks?
Ex-Blues hooker James Parsons has remained coy on whether star Highlanders playmaker Josh Ioane will be included in Ian Foster’s next All Blacks squad.
However, the two-test All Blacks rake believes Ioane has been “playing well enough” to “warrant selection” in the next national squad.
Ioane has been inspired form for the Highlander since returning to the Dunedin-based franchise’s match day squad after being stood down from the team for their shock win over the Crusaders earlier this month due to disciplinary reasons.
The 25-year-old was then named on the bench for the following week’s match against the Chiefs in Dunedin, where he turned heads with a compelling cameo appearance from fullback.
In just 28 minutes, Ioane – who normally plays at first-five – scored a try, made a clean break, ran for 88 metres, beat four defenders, threw an offload and scored a further five points off the boot.
That performance earned him a starting role in the No 15 jersey for last weekend’s clash against the Blues, a match the Highlanders won 35-29.
Under the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium, Ioane impressed again as he scored another try and directed play well. He also defending courageously, pulling off one of two try-saving tackles on Blues wing Caleb Clarke in the second half.
Prior to his one-match suspension, the one-test All Black had been threatening while playing at fullback against the Hurricanes, which has led some to beg the question whether he has reignited his seemingly stagnant test career.
Ioane hasn’t played for the All Blacks since his debut against Tonga in Hamilton in September 2019, but Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that Ioane’s inclusion in the national set-up will be dependant on how Foster configures his squad.
Parsons said that, with Chiefs star Damian McKenzie also proving his worth as a first-five/fullback option, and with Beauden Barrett set to return from his Japanese sabbatical in the coming months, Foster has many available options to fill a 10-15 role.
“It’ll be depending on the makeup of what they want to go with, like how many first-five/fullback options they carry,” Parsons said of whether Ioane has played himself back into the All Blacks squad.
“Do they see Damian as a genuine first-five? If so, then maybe not. I don’t know. I don’t have the answer for that, but he’s definitely playing well enough to warrant selection, absolutely he is, but so are the other guys.”
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Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall added that Ioane’s shift to fullback has allowed his attacking traits to fully flourish, which Highlanders head coach Tony Brown has previously attributed as the reason behind his star man’s positional switch.
Hall pointed to Ioane’s involvement in the lead-up to Michael Collins’ match-sealing try against the Blues as an example of what the fullback can offer while playing in the No 15 jersey.
“I actually thought, in that last try with Michael Collins, his animation out the back for Michael Collins to get through that line was due to [Jona] Nareki and Ioane’s ability to be animated out the back,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“I like that set-up that they have there at the moment and it just gives Josh a little bit more freedom with his running game, which is so great.
“It’s his biggest strength and, at fullback, you’re seeing it at the forefront with him with the last couple of performances that he’s had.”
Whether Foster, who was vocal about having a playmaker at fullback during his maiden season in charge of the All Blacks, decides to choose Ioane to fill that role remains to be seen, but Parsons echoed Hall’s sentiments about Ioane’s form from the back.
“I think he’s playing good footy, he’s injected himself really well off the bench the week before, he played well the other night, he looks comfortable there,” Parsons said.
“He’s another player when he’s got time and ability to see and present himself in the game, he looks silky, he glides, he’s got a good kicking game.
“He just looks like a man that’s focused on playing well and he’s just continuing on that form.”
Ioane and the Highlanders will have the bye this week before they take on the Hurricanes in Wellington next Friday in their last match of the Super Rugby Aotearoa regular season as they aim to keep their faint final hopes alive.
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments