Josh Ioane to start for the All Blacks this weekend?
Josh Ioane could make his long-awaited test debut this weekend after being re-called into the All Blacks squad ahead of their final World Cup warm-up match against Tonga this weekend.
The uncapped first-five has been re-called into the national side as Richie Mo’unga continues to nurse a shoulder injury sustained in the All Blacks’ 36-0 thrashing of the Wallabies in Auckland last month.
24-year-old Ioane was included in the All Blacks’ 39-man Rugby Championship squad in July, but was cut from the 34-man side for the Bledisloe Cup series.
He stayed with the squad as a train-on player for their two-match series against Australia, but failed to make the 31-man World Cup team named last week.
During his time as part of the Rugby Championship side, Ioane was named on the bench for the tournament opener in what would have been his test debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
However, he didn’t make it onto the field during his side’s scratchy 20-16 victory over the Pumas, while fellow rookies Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Luke Jacobson and Atu Moli all went on to make their first test appearances.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen cited that the coaching staff were wary about the harming Ioane’s development had the side suffered their first-ever loss at the hands of Argentina.
“It wouldn’t have been fair to put him out – we lose the test match and everyone starts pointing fingers at a young kid because he’s steering the ship,” he said in the wake of the clash.
“We didn’t want that to happen so we didn’t put him on. When the time comes I’m sure from what we’ve seen last week and what we’ll see this week, eventually he’ll get a game.”
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This week’s match against Tonga – the world’s 15th-ranked side – at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon presents itself as a prime opportunity for Ioane to finally get a game in the black jersey.
Hansen has previously indicated that he would play a full-strength side against the ‘Ikale Tahi in their last match before their World Cup campaign, which begins against the Springboks in Yokohama on September 21.
Had Mo’unga been injury-free, that almost certainly would have seen him and Beauden Barrett continue their dual-playmaking axis from first-five and fullback, which has been used throughout the All Blacks’ last three tests.
With Mo’unga now out the picture, though, it seem likely that Ioane will step straight into the starting No. 10 role.
It would make sense given that would allow Barrett to continue to work in a dual-playmaking role with his first-five, even if that isn’t Mo’unga.
In doing so, it would provide good preparation for the World Cup, where the 10-15 playmaking combo is expected to be a key component of the All Blacks’ game plan.
Alternatively, Hansen could revert back to deploying Barrett in his natural position of first-five for the Tonga test, which would open the door for either veteran fullback Ben Smith or youngster Jordie Barrett to reclaim the No. 15 jersey.
Smith, who was dropped from the Bledisloe Cup decider following a string of underwhelming performances, hasn’t featured at fullback at test level yet this year, and has instead been played on the right wing.
Barrett, meanwhile, has played two tests this year, starting at No. 15 against Argentina, and then came off the bench as Mo’unga’s replacement against Australia at Eden Park, where he swapped with brother Beauden to close the game out at fullback.
Starting either one of Smith or Barrett would probably result in Ioane being named on the bench, but with this fixture expected to be a blowout in favour of the All Blacks.
Therefore, it’s highly likely the Highlanders star will get at least some game time, as the pressures that restricted him from taking to the field in Argentina test won’t be evident against Tonga.
In saying that, aside from suggesting that he will field his strongest possible side, no further indication has been given by Hansen in terms of who he plans to start at first-five this weekend.
The All Blacks side to face Tonga will be named on Thursday morning.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Who listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
40 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
40 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
38 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
40 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to comments