Jason Ryan pinpoints the 'real point of difference' in new All Blacks pack

Four newcomers have been named to join the All Blacks forward pack to begin 2025, with one in particular furthering an emerging strength for the team.

Ollie Norris has been rewarded for his continued growth in the Chiefs’ front row, steering the club to a 97.2 per cent success rate in the scrums – good for the best rate in not just Super Rugby Pacific, but the Top 14, URC, and Gallagher Premiership, too.

The 25-year-old is a big body, clocking in at 194 cm and just shy of 130 kg, but brings mobility to a powerful yet skilful front row unit in the All Blacks.

That’s exciting forwards coach Jason Ryan, who says the team’s props are offering something different at the international level.

“Across the board, I think our forward pack is in quite an exciting space; we’ve got genuine ball-carrying props,” Ryan explained on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“I think that’s a real point of difference that we probably showed glimpses of last year with bringing Pasilio (Tosi) off the bench. He had a really good role for us, we know what Tamaiti (Williams) can do with the ball in hand.

“I think the bigger picture in complementing the structure of our set piece, complementing the whole of our game, is just being a little bit more accurate when it’s tight. And finishing games.

“We’ve got a little bit more experience at hooker now with Soni (Taukei’aho) back, and that’s probably another interesting discussion point around the hooker dynamic.

“George Bell got an opportunity last year when Soni was injured, and Brodie McAlister gets a bit of an opportunity this year when Asafo (Aumua) is injured.

“You’ve got to have a bit of depth there, ready to go, because one big part of our selection model this year was making sure that we challenge ourselves in our own area of being four or five deep. And things can happen so quickly. We use a number of players; we saw that last year.

“So, it’s important that we cover all that stuff off.”

The coaches have been candid about their learnings from 2024, which was the first campaign the group have had together led by new head coach Scott Robertson.

One of those lessons appears to be the need for more international experience around the fringes of the squad, with injuries and offshore contracts ever-present in dictating who’s available at any time.

Ryan, who joined the All Blacks in 2022, has actively welcomed a new generation of props into the All Blacks fold since taking up the role.

“I was part of the conversation not so long ago when we were having those conversations about Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell. They’re established Test players now, and both have been to a World Cup and felt a bit of pain in that.

“With someone like Ollie Norris, who is a younger prop, a dynamic ball-carrier, accurate defensively, we get to have a bit of a look at his craft against the French team.

“You’ve got to have the big picture in mind, but also be brave and courageous in our decisions and give guys an opportunity if they’ve been consistent. Ollie has been.

“That gives you a broad understanding of our thinking.”