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Ian Foster assesses performances of All Blacks with most to prove

By Tom Vinicombe
PIta Gus Sowakula. (Photo by Marty Melville/Photosport)

Ahead of the All Blacks‘ victory over Ireland on Saturday evening, much of the discussion centred on the selection of second-rower Scott Barrett on the blindside flank.

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Barrett had started just one prior test in the No 6 jersey for the New Zealand national side – their infamous loss to England in the semi-final stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup – and the tactic had been less than successful on that fateful evening.

With ample loose forward cover in the squad, the selection indicated a strategic shift from the All Blacks and while their general dominance over Ireland made it difficult to assess the merits of Barrett’s move to the backrow, it certainly wasn’t a decision that backfired in any way, shape or form.

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Ian Foster and Sam Cane on beating Ireland.

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Ian Foster and Sam Cane on beating Ireland.

Barrett was a strong presence for the All Blacks across the park, topping the tackle charts and hitting breakdown after breakdown with vim and vigour – even if it did attract some negative attention from some corners of the globe.

Following the game, head coach Ian Foster reinforced his comments from prior to the fixture that the in-form Barrett was more than capable of stepping into the No 6 jersey, despite some fears raised by critics of the decision, and that it was a shift the All Blacks selectors had been pondering for some time.

“He’s a good footballer. I think I said he’s been one of the form forwards,” said Foster. “I know most of that form was at lock but there was a little bit at 6.

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“It’s a role that suited us today and he carries well, defended well, contributed to a pretty good set-piece effort so he should be pretty proud of it. There was a bit of circumstance around it with selection but it certainly sped up an idea that we’ve had in that space.

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“Hopefully there’s another game for everyone to talk about rather than the other one they talk about when he plays 6.”

Alongside Barrett, focus understandably fell on the two new caps for Saturday’s fixture: wing Leicester Fainga’anuku and reserve loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula.

The sizeable Fainga’anuku made his presence felt throughout the game, with his major highlight coming in the 20th minute when he barged down the left-hand flank on a strong run, setting up the platform for the All Blacks’ first try of the game.

Sowakula, meanwhile, entered the fray in the 63rd minute and took over at the back of the scrum. Although Sowakula shelled his first possession of the ball, he quickly bounced back from the error and put in some big carries late in the game and was able to saunter in for a straightforward try off the back of an eight-man shove while also grabbing one lineout steal.

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Foster was naturally pleased with the efforts of his two debutants.

“I thought Leicester did what he had to do,” he said. “As a wing, you don’t always get a whole lot of opportunities but I was just impressed with the role play that he did. He got involved and he shows how physical he can be. So it’s a good starting point for him.

“And Pita, I thought pretty much the same. It’s not that easy when you go on, you drop your first pass – and it would have been easy to drop his head. But he settled down, won a good lineout, scored a good try off a scrum and so he would have got over that little feeling you get when you play your first test and hopefully come out the other side stronger.”

With Will Jordan sidelined due to Covid, Fainga’anuku could earn a second run next weekend when NZ and Ireland square off in Dunedin. Sowakula, meanwhile, is competing with a slew of fellow loosies for minutes and will have his work cut out for him to retain his spot on the bench, even after the strong effort. For the same reason, Barrett might not necessarily find himself in the No 6 jersey next week.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of 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.

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