1
'I think Foster is incredibly, incredibly stubborn on this': The changes the All Blacks need in 2023
The All Blacks will start their 2023 season riding a seven game undefeated streak after finishing last year with six wins and a draw.
ADVERTISEMENT
After a rocky start to 2022 the team found some rhythm after making some changes with a pair of new assistants in Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt.
However, more changes must come according to Kiwi scribe Mark Reason who believes that the team needs to send two-time World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett to the bench to accomodate Crusaders flyer Will Jordan.
“I’d very much like to see Will Jordan come back in at fullback, I think that is an important change for them to make,” Reason said on Stuff’s The Podium podcast.
“I think the whole thing with the alpha male, Richie [Mo’unga] and Beauden [Barrett] shadowing each other a bit, is not helpful.
“I’d much rather see Beauden become the impact player off the bench which he is so brilliant at. I think that would free up Richie a bit.”
Richie Mo’unga became the All Blacks first choice option at No 10 down the stretch after the win over the Springboks in the second Test at Ellis Park.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Crusaders pivot looked to have lost the role in 2021 after staying back in New Zealand for family reasons, allowing Beauden Barrett to play a string of games at first five-eighth.
After losing at Mbombela Stadium with Barrett starting at 10, the new coaching staff initiated the change once again.
The Kiwi rugby writer called on consistency in selection, particularly in the midfield, so combinations can be settled before the World Cup.
“There’s a lot of work in forming the 10-12-13 combination. One of the big failings of Foster’s coaching career has been inconsistency in selection,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Mo’unga has played with I think, nine of ten different No 12s in his fairly short international career.
“Again, why did they change everything for the Scotland game? Madness, when you want to get some consistency in selection so these partnerships can form.”
The All Blacks looked to have found gold with the selection of regular fullback Jordie Barrett at second five-eighth in the final Bledisloe Test of the year.
Barrett continued at No 12 on the end of year tour against Wales, but was swapped out again for David Havili against Scotland.
“One of the reasons Carter was so good, obviously he was one of the great, great players but he played with Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith in so many Tests,” Reason said.
“They need familiarity to decide who their 10-12-13 is.
“For my money that is probably going to be Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett now, and Rieko Ioane and they need to stick with them.”
The end-of-year tour was always a chance for Blues openside Dalton Papalii to start after an injury to regular captain Sam Cane against Japan.
Reason believed it was time for Foster to start a new chapter with a new captain after the toll of injuries that Cane has had.
“The whole country knows he shouldn’t be, he’s not the magnificent player he was five years ago, and why should he be after so many hideous injuries,” Reason explained.
“He’s not that player, he gives away too many penalties, which cost the All Blacks in some of the games against Ireland.
“And I’m not even convinced by his leadership, he’s kind of neither one thing or the other as a leader. He’s not the strong man or the very, very vocal man.
“He sits in between. He’s misspoken at times after games, so I don’t think he should be [All Blacks captain].
“Will he be? I think Foster is incredibly, incredibly stubborn on this. If he holds through for the Chiefs I suspect he will be.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Sometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to comments