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'It hasn't excited me': All Blacks boss Ian Foster on New Zealand's midfield options
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has delivered his assessment on the candidates pushing for selection in New Zealand’s midfield on the All Blacks Podcast.
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The All Blacks’ midfield of the past two seasons has relied upon the experienced 2019 World Cup pair of Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue, but both have had lengthy stints on the sidelines at different times due to injury.
That opened the way for Blues wing-turned-centre Rieko Ioane to push for more time at centre, a positional shift Foster revealed he has been impressed by after watching the growth in Ioane’s game as a midfielder.
“It’s always hard selecting the All Blacks,” Foster told the All Blacks Podcast of his upcoming squad selection for the July test series against Ireland.
“It’s never easy. You know how much people want it. We had a lot of injuries and disruptions last year in our midfield.
“We had Anton, who’s the most experienced guy, he didn’t play much last year in the Rugby Championship, he had hamstring issues, he’s coming back and been injured again.
“Really pleasing for us is the massive growth in Rieko Ioane the last 12 months. We’ve had some great conversations [in the past]. He thinks he’s a 13 playing wing and I think he’s a wing playing 13, but the good thing is that people grow.
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“He’s learned some things about playing at 13. I thought he finished the year strongly for us and he’s really taken his game to different level from what I’ve seen so far in Super Rugby, so I’m excited by that.”
Ioane has formed a strong midfield combination with former NRL superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at the Blues as they have locked up the number one seed heading into this week’s Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals.
On Tuivasa-Sheck’s transition to rugby, Foster said he was pleased with what he has seen and that he was keen to see how the 2018 Dally M Medallist plays over the remainder of the season through the playoffs.
“We are pleased with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s growth, particularly defensively he looks reasonably settled. Doesn’t mean he’s getting everything right, but he looks reasonably settled,” Foster said.
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“He’s certainly good on the carry stuff, he’s probably still learning how to link and get the passing game. I’m not sure the state of the kicking game because I haven’t seen it yet.
“I know he’s an outstanding guy, he’s doing a great job at the Blues, we’ve had some connections with him and I know he’s in a great spot.
“We’ve just got to look at his progress and particularly the next four or five weeks will be crucial.”
One of the more radical midfield options on the table is Jordie Barrett, who was from fullback to second-five moved halfway into the season by the Hurricanes.
Foster said he has been watching with interest, but noted that the value of Barrett as a fullback cannot be discounted, saying the 25-year-old was a key performer for the All Blacks in 2021 and brings exactly what they need at No 15.
“Jordie, well, we’ve watched with interest him playing at 12. Look, to be honest, it hasn’t excited me that he’s going into there, but that’s okay,” Foster said.
“The way I see it is, he’s played 12 before, he quite enjoys it, it stimulates him, that’s great.
“I’m interested to see what it is, whether it’s an option for us long-term because it might become one, but I guess the clue that I’d give you is that, I thought he was one of our best All Blacks last year.
“His goal-kicking, his high ball stuff, kicking, if you start thinking about World Cups, France, big stadiums, low-risk teams playing, then you have to have a back three that defuses high balls, has a kicking game and is strong defensively.
“He ticks those boxes. I still love him as a 15, but are we willing to consider some option at 12? Well, yes we are.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
2 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
2 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
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