Replacing Aaron Smith with TJ Perenara put the All Blacks' backline at a massive disadvantage
There is an argument to be made that Aaron Smith is the best All Black of his time.
Just as there’s a similar argument to be made that he is the best All Blacks’ halfback of all-time.
Speed is the great strength of Smith’s game. Speed of thought, speed of movement and speed of pass. In an era where teams yearn to play at pace and catch defensive lines in disarray, Smith’s skills are a huge advantage to every team he plays in.
Why, then, would you ever replace that guy with TJ Perenara?
I greatly admire Perenara. I haven’t always, but you can’t deny the man’s work-ethic and combativeness. He might not be the most talented player in the world, but few try harder.
Really and truly, though, you are putting the All Blacks’ backs at a massive disadvantage every time Perenara takes the field. His strengths don’t appear to align with the team’s preferred method of play and – at the risk of sounding a halfwit here – surely it makes more sense to have a more Smith-like halfback on the park?
I get this whole idea of teams having finishers or closers and I won’t pretend Perenara hasn’t performed well in that role over the years. Equally, I’d contend Beauden Barrett might have had a better time of it had Brad Weber worn No.9 when the All Blacks met the Wallabies in Brisbane the other night.
Test match rugby is a good product when you’ve got a contest. And again – at the risk of sounding a halfwit – the previous week’s 43-5 victory in Sydney felt a hollow one. Australia were awful that night and beating them didn’t feel like a huge achievement.
The Wallabies’ 24-22 win at Suncorp Stadium exposed a few things about the All Blacks and, in the grand scheme of things, that’s beneficial.
Walkovers won’t win New Zealand the next Rugby World Cup. The players need to face challenges and failures if they’re to improve and the coaches are to sort the wheat from the chaff.
Ian Foster didn’t roll a great starting XV onto Suncorp Stadium and then didn’t appear to have great faith in those on the bench. Despite sapping humidity and a slightly superior foe, Foster persevered with players such as Perenara and people are entitled to be critical of that.
Let’s run through the team that took the park the other night. In the backs, Anton Lienert-Brown, Beauden Barrett and Perenara are proven test performers.
Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett and Codie Taylor are all test-match quality forwards. That’s eight out of 15, with Damian McKenzie the only bench player you’d mention in the same breath.
Are we actually as good as we like to think we are? Or was this just a poor test 23?
We as fans, and alleged pundits, don’t help. You’d think, for instance, that Akira Ioane produced one of the all-time great 80-minute performances, judging by some of the praise he’s received.
The bar has slipped absurdly low if we’re commending cameos like that.
As good as it was to see a contest on Saturday, so it was to have some consistency. Referee Nic Berry was right to send Ofa Tuungafasi and Lachie Swinton off, just as he was to sinbin Marika Koroibete and Scott Barrett.
If that’s World Rugby’s standard and foul play or high tackles are going to be judged in that fashion, then happy days. Cue the justified howls of outrage, though, when Owen Farrell again escapes punishment for similar.
There was some absolute loads of rubbish talked about intent on Saturday night. And whether, as they love to say in rugby league, high tackles are a bloke’s “go’’ or not.
Again, if that’s World Rugby’s standard and referees are going to stick to it, then that’s a great outcome for the game. We can’t allow tacklers to attack the head of ball runners, no matter whether they intended to or not.
But, hey, how good is a loss? How much are you looking forward to New Zealand against Australia being a rivalry again? How keen are you to see tests against South Africa and England and France on the schedule again?
Sport is better for uncertainty and intrigue and talking points and Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium provided us with plenty. Long may that continue.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
7 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to comments