Mixed news on All Blacks injury front
While another ‘dud’ All Blacks test won’t necessarily be winning over many fans, this weekend’s game against Italy has come at the perfect time to give some senior players the opportunity to refresh ahead of the final two matches of the year.
Coach Ian Foster has named an entirely rotated starting XV for this weekend’s clash with an Azzurri side who have never tasted victory against the visiting All Blacks.
Gone are the likes of senior heads Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Anton Lienert-Brown, with the more junior members of the squad coming in to take their place.
With 12 tests under their belt already this year, the final stretch was always going to be a tough ask for the players with heavy workloads, especially given the bulk haven’t been home since the beginning of September. As such, it’s no surprise that Foster and co have given the majority of the players that will feature against Ireland and France in mid-November the weekend off.
Had the All Blacks been playing England or Scotland on Saturday, that may not have been the case – but there’s at least one senior player that wouldn’t be able to take the field regardless.
Despite making wholesale changes, there's a lot to like about this young All Blacks side. #AllBlacks #ITAvNZLhttps://t.co/NdfwiyU67f
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Lock Brodie Retallick was the only injury concern to emerge from last week’s comfortable win over Wales after taking a knock to his shoulder and leaving the park in the 60th minute.
Retallick spent a lengthy stint on the sidelines in 2019 after dislocating his shoulder against the Springboks and while Ian Foster was able to quickly alleviate any fears that a repeat injury had occurred after the match, the 30-year-old still wasn’t considered for the game against Italy, despite making good progress during the week.
“[He’s a] really strong [chance] for next week,” Foster said after naming his side to take on Italy.
“He’s recovered a lot quicker than we thought, and so he got through a really decent lineout session and a bit of push-and-jump going on in there that he got involved in, and you can’t keep him out of that sort of stuff, and he seemed to come through that pretty good. I would say the signs are pretty positive for next week.”
The chances of Angus Ta’avao featuring are much slimmer, unfortunately, with the prop dislocating his elbow in training ahead of the match with Wales.
“He’s out. Definitely out this week, definitely out next week, but there is a possibility of him being available for the last week,” Foster said.
“It’s more than a one-week injury for him, but, to be fair, he’s actually recovering a little bit quicker than what we thought, so that’s good news.”
There are some major parallels between new All Blacks lock Josh Lord and 2005 debutant Jason Eaton – but the changing world of professional rugby means the 21-year-old will be better prepared than his predecessor. #AllBlacks
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While Retallick has been a regular starter for the All Blacks this season, accumulating eight throughout the campaign, Ta’avao has had fewer chances to impress. Injuries robbed the prop of making the squad at all last year and the 31-year-old has again been plagued by niggles throughout 2021, notching two starts and four further appearances off the bench for New Zealand.
With so much competition in the front row, Ta’avao will be relying on having a good campaign with the Chiefs next year to convince the selectors he’s still worthy of a spot in the squad.
The rest of the squad, however, remains injury-free – which is hugely fortunate, given the torrid season the All Blacks have endured to date.
With just three matches remaining to round out the year, Foster will be hopeful the side can maintain a relatively clean bill of health heading into the final stretch.
Comments on RugbyPass
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks 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.
25 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.
11 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!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 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
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments