McCaw was an automatic selection after injury, but Sam Cane is not
The All Blacks’ loose forward jigsaw puzzle is already doing my head in, so one can only imagine how it is exercising the minds of Ian Foster and John Plumtree as they contemplate another stretch of five tests in five weeks.
The arrival of Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell in the USA bolsters the back-row depth but also serves to muddy the waters as the All Blacks seek answers as to who might be their best loose trio.
As captain designate at the start of the season until he needed pectoral and shoulder surgery, and coming off one of his best seasons in black (2020), Cane would have counted as an automatic selection. There would have been, all things being equal, room for both him and Ardie Savea in any starting XV.
But how times have changed in 6-7 months. Cane joins the group with just 57 minutes for the King Country Rams under his belt. He is a senior leader but does he really need to wear the captain’s armband in the big tests later in the tour, Ireland and France, in particular?
That pre-supposes that he will swiftly get up to test rugby speed again and that he shoots to the top of the openside flanker ranks, no given with Savea and Dalton Papali’i as proven options in that No 7 jersey.
Richie McCaw was always an automatic selection coming back from injury, but Cane is not automatic.
Sam Whitelock can slot in as captain as if to the manor born, as we saw in July and August. That said, Cane is more than capable of forcing his way in by the France test on November 20. The man himself is expecting no preferential treatment on the basis of his 2020 body of work in black.
Just where Cane fits in will depend on the loose forward mix, and perhaps how many lineout options they opt for – two in the loosies is desirable – not to mention the opposition.
Wales, even not quite at full strength, Ireland and France will be the major internationals on this tour.
At first glance, the eight loose forwards – hell, the 1976 team to South Africa, the last time the All Blacks have been away for three continuous months, included just six loosies for their 24 matches – appear to be overloaded with blindside flankers, now that Frizell has joined the mix.
Below’s numbers show the versatility and options with the player’s preferred jersey number listed first.
Hoskins Sotutu: 8, 6
Ardie Savea: 7, 8
Luke Jacobson: 6, 8, 7
Sam Cane: 7, 8, 6
Dalton Papali’i: 7, 6, 8
Ethan Blackadder: 6, 7, 8
Akira Ioane: 6, 8
Shannon Frizell: 6, 8, 5
Hoskins Sotutu appeared to have badly dropped off the pace, but rallied with a strong outing in the second Pumas test. The consistent Luke Jacobson has performed with panache and vigour whenever given a chance, and now appeals as a solid lineout option at two.
Papali’i has not played in five weeks, and is not yet a certainty in the starting pack, but is well equipped to win ball in the air and on the ground.
Ethan Blackadder is the wildcard, possessed of a big engine and heart and, while best in the No 6 jersey, as opposed to the openside, is now putting serious heat on Akira Ioane after a big Rugby Championship.
I have already been on record saying that Ioane needs to start at least three of these northern tests to again put his case as the best No 6 in the land. His growing reputation as an international class player took a hit against the Boks, but he is worth persevering with.
Frizell is the closest to the Jerome Kaino prototype that is spoken of in reverential tones. The Highlander was the best No 6 in Super Rugby, but his court case has ruled him out of the Rugby Championship. He has ground to make up.
If pushed to name the starting loosies by the France test, how about: Savea, Cane (not as captain) and Ioane with Jacobson in the No 20 jersey?
I can feel that headache coming on again…
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