Rieko Ioane's latest performance has All Blacks fans asking 'what if' again
Fans reacted to Rieko Ioane’s performance off the bench as a right wing during the All Blacks‘ 60-13 win over Fiji in Hamilton last weekend.
Ioane’s winding career saw him start on the left wing, with blistering try-scoring pace, but he lost his starting role to George Bridge on the eve of the World Cup just two years after a stunning outing against the Lions.
A midfielder in his younger years, Ioane expressed a desire to move further in-field to play at centre, and the 24-year-old’s positional transition began at the Blues in 2020.
After impressing Super Rugby level, Ioane received an opportunity to play at No 13 for the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe Cup test last October.
After a shaky performance in Wellington, that proved to be his only outing as a midfielder that year as he played the rest of the games off the bench as a utility option.
However, Ioane started at No 13 in the first two tests of 2021 against Tonga and Fiji, before making way for Anton Lienert-Brown in the second test against Fiji, a match where he was named to start from the bench as a utility option.
Ioane impressed at FMG Stadium Waikato, as he scored with his first touch of the ball after replacing Will Jordan on the right wing while he showed his right foot step and right-handed offload to keep play alive whenever he got the ball.
He also set-up a line break for Lienert-Brown and second-five David Havili, only for a mix up between the two midfielders denying a walk-in try on the back of Ioane’s work.
All in all, Ioane beat three defenders and had two offloads to accompany his smooth finish in the corner after going around Nemani Nadolo, all of which came from just six carries of the ball.
The flashes of brilliance had fans already theorising the possibility of Ioane becoming a right wing after the performance as they took note of his involvements.
And Ardie Savea put in a terrific 80 minute shift on his return. Lock him in at seven. Reiko Ioane looked really good on the right wing; I think that’s his best position.
— Tony Stuart #HowlOfAProtest (@TonyStuart55) July 17, 2021
Couple of nice glimpses from Rieko on the right edge. Proof he should stay on the wing #NZLvFIJ
— Lachlan Waugh (@lachlan_waugh) July 17, 2021
Rieko has been damn impressive on the wing again #NZLvFIJ
— Aidan leander (@PakeZ209) July 17, 2021
Rieko just belongs in the wing position. Jordan too honestly #NZLvFIJ
— Fuggazzzziii (@choochooob) July 17, 2021
Rieko Ioane on the wing is a guaranteed world beater.
— Playboy Clarti (@anomoyikwa) July 17, 2021
Rieko looking world class on the wing ?
— Nick Smale (@njsmale) July 17, 2021
It wasn’t only the fans who acknowledged Ioane’s exploits off the bench, as Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall and ex-Blues hooker James Parsons discussed how Ioane should be used in the All Blacks backline on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“The one thing that Rieko does have, is his speed,” Hall said.
“You can’t substitute speed, you give a guy an opportunity on the outside or the open field, Rieko’s the best in the country to do that. You get that [opportunity] on the wing.
“Centre and wing is obviously different. You are more selfless as a centre, whereas if you are playing as a winger you have the opportunity to get the ball in your hands, try score, try beat your defender one-on-one.
“I think Rieko should be given more opportunities at 13 because of his performances in Super Rugby, and even the test matches at the start, he’s actually played well.
“So, the more time he has to play centre, I think that will be the biggest thing for him moving forward. Coming off the bench, he can cover that 13 or winger role.”
Two-test All Blacks rake Parsons backed Ioane to stay at centre after his season at the Blues and on the basis of what he has shown in his two starts at 13 this season.
He added that if Ioane’s selection was dependant his own form or that of others, the 37-test veteran could start the Rugby Championship on the edge.
“I think we need to credit his growth at the 13 at the Blues this year, in terms of his distribution and setting up others, but more importantly, defensively in his reads and his connections,” Parsons said.
“At that level he had a great combination with TJ Faiane, who is his mate, and guys that he knows. I think he’s made a huge step up at 13 for the All Blacks. The coach Ian Foster has even acknowledged that.
“We credited him in that Tonga game, he really set guys alight and he’s always looking to create opportunities for others now which is key to that 13 role.
“I think he reminded us on the weekend, he certainly reminded me, because we haven’t seen him play wing for so long, he’s world class at wing. It’s unbelievable how good he looked on the wing.
“I’m not going to hide away from the fact that he looked amazing. To the point that, you could even see him starting the Rugby Championship at wing. He just glides. When he gets on the outside and he gets in space, it’s just great to watch.
“I know he wants to play 13, and I’ve just stressed he looked great at 13, but he seriously looks great at wing.
“If it is a form selection and Anton is on fire at 13 and Rieko is on fire, get them both out there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
4 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
4 Go to comments