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'No disrespect to Italy': All Blacks audition expected in Rome

By Sam Smith
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The All Blacks have camped up Rome to take on Italy this weekend ahead of what is expected to be a one-sided fixture on Sunday [NZT].

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After comfortably beating Wales 54-16, this week’s test against the Italians shapes as the last opportunity for the squad to put their cases forward for the following two-week challenge against Ireland, currently ranked fifth by World Rugby, and France, ranked sixth.

Crusaders and Maori All Blacks halfback Bryn Hall expects to see a lot of changes in All Blacks head coach Ian Foster’s run-on side, including the return of Sam Cane and his teammate Richie Mo’unga at first-five.

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“We are going to see a lot of changes I think,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“Give guys a chance to put their hand up for the next coming two test matches. It’s no disrespect to Italy, it is an opportunity to give guys an opportunity to play.

“Whether that is Sam Cane coming back in, you’ve got Dane Coles as well – does Richie Mo’unga come in and you give Beaudy [Beauden Barrett] a week off? Even the likes of Sevu Reece and Luke Jacobson, players like that.

“I think Sam Cane might come in and start, give him some minutes. From Ian Foster’s words, he wanted to bring him in and have some good training under his belt even though he played that test match against the USA.

“It’s a good opportunity to bring him in, get him some meaningful minutes where he can stake his claim to get back to where we know Sam can be.”

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Hall also suggested this weekend is an opportune time to give Mo’unga a start despite the man-of-the-match performance from Barrett over the weekend.

Barrett has plenty of minutes under his belt so far, and Hall outlined that the Italy test presents the last chance for Mo’unga to really put a case forward to start in the remaining big tests.

“I think it’s an opportunity to give Richie a go,” Hall said.

“Beaudy had an outstanding game on the weekend, played really, really well and it’s not going to be a form thing when it comes to Beaudy.

“He’s been there for the majority of that Rugby Championship, played consistently well and has had a lot of time, whereas Richie played that game against the Americans, got what he needed to get out of it, but I think it is a good time to put Richie in there and have that combination with David Havili.

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“There’s just so many great players at the moment that need a little more game time. You’d like to think this Italian game is the last chance on this tour for guys who want to play the big two tests against Ireland and France.”

Former Blues hooker James Parsons agreed that Cane is sure to see some significant game time, but suggested the decision at lock will be key for Foster if the All Blacks need a replacement for the injured Brodie Retallick.

“A couple of interesting positions for me is lock. I’m not sure where Brodie’s injury is at, so we might see some opportunity for Josh Lord or Tupou Vaa’i to start,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“If they aren’t going to bring someone in, depending on how bad Brodie’s injury is, is there a makeshift loosie that can potentially move into that locking space for the other two tests coming up?

“I’m sure Brodie is fine, but that’s what I was thinking about going into that Italian test. If they can create some opportunities for some guys to fill that role.

“I agree with Bryn, I think Sam Cane will come back into the mix and start and get some good minutes under his belt.”

If Cane is to return to the starting line-up, that could push in-form youngster Dalton Papalii to the bench despite his impressive performance against Wales.

The 24-year-old flanker completed 16 of 16 tackles while winning a turnover in an industrious defensive display. Papalii also added a try after breaking from the maul, which came at a key moment after Wales had narrowed the gap to 28-16.

When asked if Papalii is pushing Cane for his position, Parsons said it was too tight to call with both players at various stages in the All Blacks’ plans.

“I think that’s too hard of a discussion,” he said.

“I think Dalton is physically ready and ready for tier one nations test football. I think the plan, with Sam, is just to slowly progress him back. He’s had a great opportunity against the US and now another opportunity against Italy.

“They will reassess from there and make some decisions heading into the Irish and French tests.”

Parsons also believed that going back-to-back against Ireland and France with the same All Blacks team would be tough without knowing how the squad is shaping up physically at that time.

“I find that hard because you have got to see how banged up they are, see who is in the best physical shape. I think that is the beauty of this squad at the moment, is the competition.

“So, I think there might be a pencilled in team potentially, for that two-week slot, but it’s two different styles, two different opposition. I think they will leave themselves the ability to adjust, post that Irish test.”

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Jon 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

29 Go to comments
A
Adrian 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

29 Go to comments
T
Trevor 11 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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