Lolly scramble of All Black selections begs the question, is there actually a plan in place?
Forgive me for being perplexed by the All Blacks squad named to play Tonga and Fiji.
Maybe I’m dim, but the announcement of the latest 36-man squad has left me as confused as I was in 2019 and 2020.
There’s talent in this squad, sure. Just as there are some tremendous athletes. But an actual team? I’m not so sure.
Time was when there were obvious candidates to play each position. Now we just summon the country’s finest players and try and fit them in from there.
No matter if your best position is fullback, we’ll find you a spot on the wing. Done well at wing? Well, how about playing centre instead?
It’s nice that lots of blokes can play two or more roles in the loose forwards. But what might be even better is a trio of guys who have a particular spot nailed down.
We’re two years away from the next Rugby World Cup and how many positions in the starting XV would you say are sewn up? I’d say about five and a half.
Injury permitting, Joe Moody is this country’s premier loosehead prop. Only, injury doesn’t permit Moody to play that often. Nevertheless, let’s pencil him in.
The same goes for the injured Ofa Tuungafasi on the tighthead side. Given luck, he and Nepo Laulala look a capable rotation there.
Who’s our best hooker? Old man Dane Coles or Codie Taylor? Hopefully both will be fit in 2023, otherwise we’re battling.
The ageing Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick have been sensational locks over the years, but will they still be up to it in two years’ time?
It’s wide open in the loose forwards. Nominal captain Sam Cane is injury prone and, without him, there’s no outstanding openside flanker. Lachlan Boshier might have been an option, but he’s bailing.
Six and eight just look like a lolly scramble.
Ardie Savea has enjoyed some good moments in the black jumper, but often in concert genuine first-choice options. Only Cane’s not particularly durable and Kieran Read has retired. Once upon a time, they played their defined role, allowing Savea to freelance. Without them around, though, all the potential trios look unbalanced.
In the backs, halfback Aaron Smith is the only guy assured of his spot.
In terms of the ‘half’ a position I mentioned earlier, that’s filled by Anton Lienert-Brown. Whether it’s 12 or 13, he’ll be picked when fit, but there’s no certainty about which position he’ll actually play.
Smith is one of five dominant playmakers who, at various times, we’ve tried to make function as a backline.
In Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie we have men who are accustomed to being the ball-dominant player for their respective franchises.
Give any of them a secondary role and none are nearly as effective.
Jordie Barrett is an out-and-out fullback these days, as is McKenzie. Will Jordan can play wing, but is a fullback too. In his heart of hearts, David Havili is a fullback as well, despite being picked to play in midfield.
And yet Beauden Barrett has been the main No.15 in recent years.
No-one pretends these blokes aren’t good players, but where are they actually going to play?
I can’t say I have great faith in New Zealand’s selection panel of Ian Foster, John Plumtree and Grant Fox. A blind man could do their job and, unfortunately, it looks as if a blind man has in this instance.
I don’t know who New Zealand’s best first five-eighth is. I don’t know who the best second five-eighth is or centre. Just as I’ve no clue who the premier fullback and wings are.
The problem we have here, though, is neither do the selectors. They’re just going to chuck them all together and hope for the best.
Among the things I do know, is that Mo’unga can never assert himself at first-five while Beauden Barrett is in the side. Rightly or wrongly, the team default to Barrett’s leadership in times of strife, completely undermining Mo’unga.
I also know Rieko Ioane isn’t a viable test centre and Jordie Barrett is not a wing.
It’s bad teams like Australia who used to specialise in shoe-horning people in. Can’t choose between Michael Hooper and David Pocock? Heck, pick them both. Short of a midfield back or a wing or a fullback? No worries, Adam Ashley-Cooper can do a makeshift job anywhere.
Gone are the days when the All Blacks had hard-and-fast backline starters. It hurts people’s feelings not to play – tempting them to go overseas – so we now fit them into the side, no matter how unsuited to the role.
Foster and company can’t hedge their bets forever. At some point, if the All Blacks have designs on winning anything of significance, then they have to pick and stick.
They have to define what their best XV is and play it. Not waffle on about how the back-three and the midfield are their own little pods and pretend that the players are completely interchangeable.
Let’s pick a first five-eighth and be done with it, rather than leave Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett to be fearful of the axe every week.
The naming of the season’s first All Blacks squad has historically been a time of great optimism. A time to look at the fine men assembled and imagine a bright and prosperous future.
But the naming of this squad just smacks of uncertainty and an avoidance of any difficult decisions.
If there’s a plan in place, then I’ll have to admit I’m too dumb to see it.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments