Opportunity comes knocking for Akira Ioane
After five long weeks, Blues No 8 Akira Ioane is finally set to start for his improving team – he’ll run on for the first whistle against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday for a side that may require a little extra energy after a delayed return from South Africa.
After the Blues backed up their last-second victory over the Bulls in Pretoria with a hugely meritorious 33-14 victory over the previously unbeaten Stormers in Cape Town, a delay left them stuck at Johannesburg airport for five extra hours, making an already long journey home even more arduous.
“It was a tough trip back,” said assistant coach Tom Coventry. “We were delayed by four or five hours and sat around the lounge in Johannesburg hoovering down the food that was offered to us. I think the catering staff were pretty keen to see us on the plane eventually.”
Fortunately, men such as Ioane and the returning lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti – on the reserves bench for what will be his first game of the year after injury – are ready to provide some much-needed reinforcements at a place where the Blues haven’t enjoyed much success recently.
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Ioane played in every game over the last two seasons but has played only 12 minutes off the bench this year. His failure to make the travelling squad to South Africa was a big surprise but such has been the form of Hoskins Sotutu – a real find for the Blues – the opportunities just haven’t been there for a man in the All Black frame last year.
“We’ve spoken about using our squad possibly a little bit better than we did last season,” Coventry said. “Aki comes into the mix this week. Blake [Gibson] gets an opportunity to start – he didn’t have much time away with us. Those guys will add some value, as well as Gerard, who will come off the bench.”
Dalton Papalii’s All Black rest week gives Gibson his big chance, and for Ioane is probably a case of if not now, then when.
“We need to make sure we give guys opportunities to play and create some competition in our group, which has been evidenced so far. Aki has been working really hard – he had some clear messages about what he had to do while we were away and he gets his opportunity this week.
“Akira is a really popular member of our team and we want him to do well. The trainers have been working him pretty hard. It’s exciting to have him back in there – considering he played every game last year and was a big part of 2019, it’s going to be good to have him back on the field.
“I’d like to see him active with the ball in his hands. We want him running into space and getting the ball off the back of the scrum nicely, making his tackles and showing progress he’s made in some of the dark areas he’s been criticised about before. He showed in pre-season he’s been good in those areas. I think we’d all like to see him rampaging around with the ball in his hand and being an obvious threat.”
The Blues’ backline remains unchanged which means Akira’s brother Rieko retains his No 13 jersey and will have his hands full trying to defend Ngani Laumape in the Hurricanes’ midfield.
Meanwhile, Beauden Barrett will train fully with the Blues from Monday as he works his way into his first Super Rugby game of the season; slated for the Blues v Hurricanes fixture at Eden Park on April 11.
Coventry confirmed the All Blacks playmaker would turn out for Taranaki club Coastal, coached by brother Kane, the week before.
“He [Kane] has already made it clear he isn’t going to take too much rubbish from his brother,” Coventry said. “I think he warned him he’d be carrying the water bottles if he didn’t play so well.
“It’s great if we can get Super Rugby players and All Blacks starting their return to play [protocols] through the clubs. It’s outstanding.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
WATCH: Hurricanes coach Jason Holland answered questions from RugbyPass fans on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
45 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
45 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
45 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
45 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
45 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
45 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
45 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments