Luke Jacobson might be the jack of all trades and master of none

The most surprising selection sprung by Dave Rennie and his selectors this July was picking Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson as the starting openside.

Heading into the first Test, many expected Ardie Savea to remain in the No.7 jersey, with a host of popular No.8 options available in Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi and even Jacobson himself.

But Savea has been picked as the No.8 in every Test and Jacobson has remained the first choice No.7 since week one, a configuration not many saw coming.

The Chiefs captain has managed 27 Tests since his debut in 2019, with just 13 of them in the starting side. His career to date has been taking a backseat to the likes of Dalton Papalii, Sam Cane, and Ardie Savea, with most of his appearances coming from the bench. Even last November he was on the bench for the All Blacks XV, a long way off starting for the top side.

Rennie and his selectors seem steadfast on Jacobson as the seven despite some shaky moments across July. He was pinged twice early in Christchurch in France, while at Eden Park his yellow card was a borderline red and cost the All Blacks momentum and a scoring opportunity.

But through those hairy moments he has produced the goods. Against France, it was the match-winning play with an assist for Will Jordan. Against Ireland, he ended the first half with a key breakdown turnover, winning the penalty to end Ireland’s 22 entry.

If Jacobson is to be replaced as the openside, the question is, what does Rennie want from his loose forwards?

In Rennie’s system, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, and Ardie Savea seem to be adaptable and float between thirds dependent on the pattern run from set piece. This is the main phase play structure between the 22s in the middle part of the field.

Vaa’i popped up on both edges during the first half at Eden Park, while Jacobson and Savea mainly played middle, but both were seen on the edge at least once.

A key feature is that all three of the loosies can be the game-breaker on the edge.

Against France, we saw Jacobson produce the game-sealing try assist for Will Jordan running down the right-hand touchline. Against Ireland, Vaa’i was more prominent there.

When the All Blacks enter the opposition 22, the forwards narrow up for more direct play, and the loosies will get involved in the tight play, like the launch play that saw the All Blacks march right down to the try line before Jacobson’s illegal cleanout. During that passage, the loosies were all involved in carrying or cleaning phase after phase off No.9.

Inside the 22, the forwards will play direct, with the backs swinging around into position to overload whatever side they see as short on numbers.

The opening try to Patrick Tuipulotu is the perfect example. After a bunch of carries, Lord took the short option to his lock partner, but the All Blacks had the entire backline swinging around and would have likely picked apart the right edge if Lord had gone out the back.

Any loose forward needs to be equally adept at carrying, cleaning, and edge running with good footwork and offloading.

Jacobson might be the jack of all trades and master of none, but that’s the point. He can do everything that’s required here, even if he’s not the best at everything required. And that fits the system.

The closest challenger is Peter Lakai, who would be a more dynamic open field runner than Jacobson and can carry all day, but he played mainly as a No.8 all season. His ball carrying in close is the real strength, but as a seven in this system it’s about doing everything.

Rennie has gone with the bigger body in Jacobson’s case. He’s going to deliver on defence, with a plus 90 per cent tackle completion rate and has the ability to deliver a dominant hit when needed.

Jacobson’s work on is the discipline; he can’t veer into the card territory again in South Africa. On his illegal cleanout, three Irish bodies lay all over the tackled All Black, slowing the ball.

Josh van der Flier was never on his feet, instead meddling from his knees. It’s illegal and cynical from the Ireland No.7, trying to kill the ball on his own try line, worthy of a card himself. But Jacobson can’t take matters into his own hands and get it wrong like that.

Other than that play, Jacobson had a great night against Ireland and took strides in cementing himself as a big performer for the All Blacks, which they will need on the tour of South Africa.

The Springboks will see the high phase count, the high possession percentage and understand they must stop the All Blacks at the breakdown. They are skilled at jackalling and no strangers to winning turnovers.

That’s where Jacobson will have to stand out as a cleaner and secure Roigard’s platform to distribute; otherwise, they will be eaten alive on the floor.