Papali'i tops Cane for All Blacks' 2022 form XV spot
The 87th edition of New Zealand’s Rugby Almanack was released earlier in March and highlighted the brightest achievements from both the All Blacks and Black Ferns, as well as naming the respective form XVs of 2022, as decided by the editors.
The major takeaways from the All Blacks form XV was the team’s captain being demoted to the bench while an uncapped back makes an appearance as the 23rd team member.
Shaun Stevenson’s superb play for the Chiefs, Maori All Blacks and All Blacks XV earned him that final spot, beating fellow outside backs Mark Telea and Leicester Fainga’anuku who both enjoyed some sensational form but less game-time outside of Super Rugby.
All Blacks XV of the Year: Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tyrel Lomax, Samuel Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett.
Substitutes: Codie Taylor, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, David Havili, Shaun Stevenson.
Papali’i and Cane’s battle for the All Blacks No 7 jersey has evolved into a ripe storyline, having in recent times replaced the Mo’unga v Barrett contest for the most divisive selection point within the All Blacks’ fanbase.
Papali’i is six years Cane’s junior, but with a mature head on his shoulders and he’s now in his second season as captain of the Blues. The 25-year-old started, and impressed, in all three matches of the 2022 Northern Tour due to Sam Cane suffering a cheekbone fracture against Japan.
Cane’s injury was cited as an influence in having Papali’i claim the starting role in the form team, despite the Captain still logging more minutes in the black jersey.
Cane’s form in 2023 has been some of his best to date, a great sign for All Blacks coach Ian Foster who wouldn’t commit to naming Cane as captain for 2023 following last year’s Northern Tour, instead reaffirming the notion that everyone has to earn their place each year.
Chiefs scrum coach Nick White was full of praise for his co-captain ahead of the team’s match with the Blues this weekend.
“He does the work that not a lot of guys see,” White told SENZ Breakfast.
“He does a lot of cleaning of rucks, he’s massive on defence, he’s been putting in some really solid work in his defensive game.
“He’s just a worker and he’s a great leader. He’s a bit of a ‘follow me’ but when he talks the boys will listen.
“(He delivers) good messages and obviously it’s a big year. It’s a big year for all of those guys, they need to play well in Super Rugby so that form follows them through to hopefully having a bloody good World Cup.
“I think he’s going to have a big year.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy 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!
5 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 …
34 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.
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