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Levi Aumua knocking at the door for All Blacks selection
Levi Aumua has been selected as one of four midfielders travelling to Europe with the All Blacks XV in November, his selection comes off the back of strong NPC and Super Rugby seasons for Tasman and Moana Pasifika respectively.
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The All Blacks XV is an All Blacks development team set to embark on their maiden tour with tests against Ireland A and the Barbarians – who will be coached by the Crusaders’ Scott Robertson.
Leon MacDonald is set to coach the All Blacks XV team but the selection duties were entirely handled by Ian Foster and his All Blacks selection panel, meaning the selected players are the men next in line for All Blacks duties should injury or ill-form find New Zealand’s current top players.
The Aotearoa Rugby Pod panel discussed Aumua’s selection as an area of particular interest due to his recent form and physical ability.
“He’s something different,” Ex-Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall said. “He’s a guy that brings something different to all the other midfielders that we have at the moment.”
“We’ve talked around Jordie and how well he played being able to get over the advantage line and Levi Aumua – whether it be NPC or even this year With Moana Pacifica – his ability to be able to beat the tackle one on one or even two to three defenders, is one of his great strengths.
“It’s a win-win for the All Blacks, they get him into their All Blacks environment, he gets to play two test matches against the baabaas (barbarians) and Ireland A and if he plays well in that test match it’s a win-win for the selectors thinking ‘yep we might be able to bring him up to the next level if there are injuries.’”
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Aumua celebrated his 28th birthday last week so his inclusion in the “development squad” is reflective of his All Blacks ambitions being a higher priority than other nations that he is eligible for.
Even if Aumua were selected to take the field for the All Blacks XV, it would not count as an international cap so he would be free to put his hand up for selection for the likes of Samoa according to Hall.
“He must have aspirations to want to be an All Black, he’s obviously had words from the coaches to say don’t give up on the dream of being an All Black.
“The good thing about this All Blacks XV is that you don’t get called as an international cap.
“It still opens the door for him to play for Samoa of Fiji with him not getting an international cap to stop him from playing for those island nations in the World Cup and in the future.”
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Parsons confirmed Hall’s comments by sharing what he’d heard about Aumua’s priorities.
“From my understanding, Levi made it very clear that he wanted to be up for selection for this team and obviously the All Blacks as well so he’s obviously motivated by that, he’s performing extremely well, (he) was player of the year for Moana Pasifika.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
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