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
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments