Lock and loose forward combo still the biggest conundrum for All Blacks
Selecting a robust World Cup squad is a tough juggling act.
With just 31 spots available on the plane to Japan, there’s no room for excess luggage.
Historically, the All Blacks have favoured selecting utility players over specialists – especially when it comes to picking the guys that aren’t going to feature too much in the latter stages of the competition.
One area where this becomes especially prevalent is in the locks and loose forwards.
In 2011, the All Blacks secured the World Cup at home with four locks and five back-rowers. Notably, Richie McCaw was the only out-and-out openside flanker, with Adam Thompson the backup.
For the 2015 tournament, the coaches opted for just three locks, instead taking six loose forwards to England.
This year, Steve Hansen and his fellow selectors would have strongly preferred to follow the same route as in 2015 – but Brodie Retallick’s injury could make thing even more complicated.
“If we take Brodie and he’s not ready to play, it’s a big workload on the other three,” Hansen said earlier this week.
“But, it’s doable. If we can get through the South African game then we can play other people at lock if we have to.”
Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett are far and away the three best locks in the country – all proven at international level. The next tier down boasts players such as Patrick Tuipulotu and Jackson Hemopo. Until last night, neither of those players had really produced a performance on the international stage that suggested they were worthy of World Cup spots – but more on that later.
In the loose forwards, Kieran Read, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Matt Todd are basically guarantees.
Todd isn’t necessary a fan favourite (except in the Canterbury region), but he’s an excellent forager and Hansen clearly likes what he brings to the table.
Perhaps if Savea were exclusively an openside flanker then there wouldn’t be room for Todd in the squad, but the excellent performance of the loose forward trio on Saturday night now means that Savea is locked in as someone who can cover multiple positions.
That leaves two slots in the locks and loose forwards, and the question is whether that will be split between the two positions or if both will be allocated to loosies, as was the case in 2015.
Hansen’s most recent comments on Retallick, however, indicate that four locks will be necessary, and a fifth could even sneak in. Presumably that would be at the expense of a loose forward – but it may be that the third halfback or hooker is the player who gets the cut.
Tuipulotu, Hemopo, Vaea Fifita, Luke Jacobson and probably Liam Squire are all vying for at most two slots in the squad.
If a fifth loose forward travels, it becomes a shoot-out between Fifita, Squire and Jacobson.
Jacobson has been released for Mitre 10 Cup duty and hasn’t featured since his debut against Argentina more than a month ago. The 22-year-old bolted into the squad this season and may well have been pencilled in to earn a cap against Australia.
“Luke’s not played a lot because of his concussion problems – and we’ve got that sorted,” said Hansen earlier in the week.
Given he hasn’t had an opportunity to assert himself in test football, combined with his relative inexperience, you’d have to think he’ll be first on the chopping board.
That leaves Squire and Fifita.
If it were a simple choice between the two then you would imagine that the selectors would opt for Squire – but it sounds like that choice isn’t theirs to make.
“He is (in consideration) – but it’s whether he wants to be considered or not,” Hansen said of Squire.
Squire made himself unavailable for selection before the initial squad was named and there have been no further indications from last year’s incumbent blindside flanker whether or not he wants to return to the All Blacks scene.
If he gives the coaches the all clear, then he’d likely be fast-tracked back into the squad – pushing Fifita out.
Otherwise, it seems like Fifita has won the back-up blindside flanker berth ahead of Shannon Frizell. Fifita, of course, is also an option in the second row and could be one of the players that Hansen mentioned as being required to shift into lock during the pool fixtures.
Until this weekend there would have been plenty of reservations about bringing a fourth second-rower to Japan. Not because it’s a bad idea, just because no one has stood out as the obvious option.
Patrick Tuipolutu has had a number of chances that he hasn’t taken advantage of whilst any other possibilities are still fairly green, even Jackson Hemopo.
So came Saturday, however, and Tuipulotu finally came of age on the international stage. There would have no questions about his ability after his successful hit out against the Wallabies – though consistency will be his next goal.
“Personally, probably happy with my performance. It’s something to be proud of,” said Tuipulotu after the match.
“I’ve gotta take every opportunity that I can. I’m probably guilty of not being good at that in my career.
“I’m just happy with how we played tonight as a team and I was happy that I could have my input there as well.”
Tuipulotu’s performance would have booked himself a spot as the fourth lock – now it just becomes a question of whether someone like Hemopo joins him on the plane, despite next to no game time in the test matches this year, or if the selectors plump for that extra loose forward.
The All Blacks squad for the World Cup will be announced on August 28th. There will no doubt be plenty of robust discussions between the selectors to determine the final few spots and the toughest decisions will probably surround the second and third rows of the scrum.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
20 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
8 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
72 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
20 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
8 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
20 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
20 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
20 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
2 Go to comments