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Jeff Wilson's shock selection call to solve All Black halfback crisis
By Henry Lee
Scott Robertson and the All Blacks might be without their three first choice starting halfbacks for the upcoming Test match in the Rugby Championship against the Springboks, but one former All Black has made a bold suggestion regarding the squad makeup.
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Robertson and his coaching staff have long talked about wanting to be four players deep per position, which for the halfback position, is currently being tested.
With Cameron Roigard, Noah Hotham and Cortez Ratima all injured, Finlay Christie and Kyle Preston are the next two players in line to play for the All Blacks, but 60-Test former All Black Jeff Wilson believes a young halfback from Otago could be the next cab off the rank.
Christie, who played 60 minutes off the bench against Argentina on Sunday morning, looks to now be the first choice for the Springboks Test if the others aren’t available, but the All Blacks coaches will need to bring in another option in the squad.
Recent Highlanders signing and U20 vice-captain Dylan Pledger has been plying his trade for Otago in the Bunnings NPC, and is yet to make a Super Rugby Pacific appearance, but Wilson believes that why not get him involved in the squad.
“I’m going to throw a random out here and say Dylan Pledger into the squad, I’m going with Pledger the fact he’s playing well for Otago,” Wilson said on The Breakdown on Sky Sport.
“He played well for the New Zealand under 20 team, he’s fit, he’s athletic, ultimately, it’s going to be a challenge for whoever goes into that environment so I think this kid’s special.”
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Wilson understands and explains that he shouldn’t be in to play against the Springboks, but believes that his talent should be worthy of being in and around the squad, rather than trusting an older player.
“Really loved the way that he plays, now I’m not saying you throw him in against the Springboks, but I’m looking at it and going, are we going to go back to a Folau Fakatava?
“Are we going to go to a Mitch Drummond? Well, are we going to go to someone who’s probably going to be conditioned to it physically around the park.
“His fundamental skills are good, that’s what he’s got, I know it’s a massive step up but that’s what we’re relying on Preston, right? The fact we’re looking at fundamental skills.”
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Rugby Championship
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
New Zealand
2
1
1
0
6
2
Australia
2
1
1
0
5
3
South Africa
2
1
1
0
4
4
Argentina
2
1
1
0
4
Former World Cup winning All Blacks first-five Stephen Donald throws Chiefs and Waikato halfback Xavier Roe into the mix, someone who has solid combinations with some of the All Blacks players already.
“If you’re going outside of it on Marshy’s point about combinations, and he has been well performed at Super Rugby, Xavier Roe,” Donald said on The Breakdown.
“He probably had a better Super Rugby season than Ratima this year, so there’s another one that you’d be close to the conversations.”
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