Is the All Blacks' triple-axis of openside flankers a long-term option?
This weekend, the All Blacks will operate with three loose forwards who have been no strangers to playing in the No 7 jersey.
Dalton Papalii, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea will line up together for the first time when New Zealand takes on Ireland in Dunedin.
Regular lock Scott Barrett, last week’s surprise selection on the blindside flank, has shifted into the second row due to the enforced absences of Sam Whitelock, Tupou Vaa’i and Josh Lord, facilitating Papalii’s promotion from the bench.
That shift is one head coach Ian Foster wasn’t seriously considering for the weekend until Whitelock and Vaa’i went down in successive days.
“I think it’s fair to say we probably would have looked at Scooter [Barrett] again,” Foster said after naming his side for Saturday’s fixture.
“I think you’ll see him there again at some stage but for now it’s a chance for us to look at where we could have ended up on the second half last week, which is three more mobile loosies.”
As far as blindside flankers go, you’d be hard-pressed to find two more different players than Barrett and Papalii.
The former is a bulkier specimen who is perhaps more akin to the likes of Jerome Kaino and Peter-Steph du Toit. The latter is a smaller, more agile specimen who makes up for his less formidable set-piece presence with exceptional speed across the park.
While the All Blacks certainly need to have players with different strengths and skills in each position available for the opposition they’re facing and the game plans they want to employ, it’s unusual to see such a significant deviation in selection this weekend, given NZ are facing off against the same opposition for the second week in a row. Barrett played his role to perfection last week and it’s unlikely Papalii will be able to match that feat if he tries to adopt the same approach employed by the man he’s replacing.
There’s a man on the bench this weekend who could have been asked to take on a similar role to Barrett’s from the first game of the series, however, and that’s last week’s try-scoring debutant, Pita Gus Sowakula.
Sowakula has spent limited time in the No 6 jersey over the past two years but that’s no different to Papalii, who hasn’t featured in the role in almost two years.
With a number of players unavailable – including Whitelock, Vaa’i and regular blindside flanker Akira Ioane – Foster’s hand has been forced somewhat – but you still have to spare a thought for specialist number 8 Hoskins Sotutu. The Blues back-rower was competing with Ardie Savea for game time last year and, as such, unsurprisingly struggled to earn minutes. It appears that he’ll face the same challenge this year, despite being one of the form players throughout Super Rugby Pacific.
Perhaps there be more balance to the loose forwards with Sotutu at the back of the scrum – but Foster and co have evidently decided that fielding three former openside flankers across the three roles won’t have a negative impact on their game. While the All Blacks had no problems getting over the advantage line in the first test against Ireland last weekend, the same couldn’t be said on last year’s end-of-year tour. A man like Papalii might thrive if he can find gaps in the outer channels – as he showed when coming off the bench in the Super Rugby Pacific final – but can he punch holes in defences closer to the breakdown?
Starting with a loose forward trio of Dalton Papalii, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea is a somewhat left-field move from the All Blacks selectors and could cause some havoc on the ground but the biggest challenge this weekend for New Zealand remains generating front-foot ball – and that puts a big responsibility on the curiously balanced backrow.
Comments on RugbyPass
I 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.
8 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.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 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?
8 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 commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments