Rugby World Cup Depth Chart - New Zealand
Despite the ever-present temptation of overseas cash, there’s still unquestionable depth within New Zealand right now.
The All Blacks continue to have unfathomable depth to pick from – you only need to look at a list of the players who weren’t selected in the first squad of the year: Nathan Harris, Tyrel Lomax, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Luke Whitelock, Te Toiroa Tahurioarangi, Ma’a Nonu, Waisake Naholo.
Included in the squad, however, is an excellent mix of experience and form – though perhaps the former is lacking a bit in the loose forwards and in the outside backs.
The hooking duo of Dane Coles and Codie Taylor is arguably the best in the world, whilst there’s still a number of developing players all vying for the third berth in the World Cup squad. Liam Coltman was arguably the form hooker during Super Rugby so he gets the nod at present, alongside young Hurricanes rake Asafo Aumua.
The propping situation is similar, with four rock-solid scrummagers in the form of Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Karl Tu’inukuafe and Nepo Laulala. The likes of Atu Moli and Ofa Tu’ungafasi can cover both sides of the scrum and there’s plenty of athletic specimens ready to back up the chosen five.
Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock make up the world’s best locking combination (although some English fans may disagree) and Scott Barrett is slowly coming into his own as a top back-up option. Although there’s not much internationally proven talent in New Zealand behind that trio, there’s reason to believe that Patrick Tuipulotu and a number of other youngsters can step up next year.
You won’t find better openside flankers doing the rounds than Ardie Savea and Sam Cane – even though the latter is only just returning from a serious neck injury. Matt Todd may be the unluckiest man in world rugby at the moment, being parked behind both Savea and Cane but still being one of the best you’ll ever come across.
The blindside situation is a lot murkier for the All Blacks. Liam Squire removed himself from selection for the Rugby Championship but could slot straight back into the starting 6 jersey if he gives Steve Hansen the all clear. Shannon Frizell and Vaea Fifita have strengths to their game but are unproven at test level while young Chiefs loose-forward Luke Jacobson has been doing the rounds there at Super Rugby but appeals as a long-term replacement to captain Kieran Read at the back of the scrum.
The halves are as well-stocked as ever, with Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga all world-class. Brad Weber will look to build from an excellent season of Super Rugby.
Like the loose-forwards, the midfield remains a bit of an uncertainty for the All Blacks – except the players in contention for spots all have plenty of experience. Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams loom as the selectors’ likely first-choice pairing but any combination utilising those two as well as Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue and Ngani Laumape would cause headaches for oppositions. The ever-green Ma’a Nonu is also waiting in the wings should his experience be needed.
Whilst the outside backs are dangerous, they’re also very young. Rieko Ioane, George Bridge, Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece and Jordie Barrett are all 24 or under and don’t have many caps to speak of. Ben Smith will be tasked with coordinating the back three from either fullback or the wing. The form of Bridge, Ennor and Reece has seem them usurp the likes of Nehe Milner-Skudder (who was such a revelation at the last World Cup) and Waisake Naholo, whose season was hampered by injuries.
There are no real weaknesses in the All Blacks squad – as you would expect. With only five tests to play before the World Cup, however, Steve Hansen will be desperate to sort out his top loose-forwards and back three combinations.
(Graphic Credit: Sam Stevens, Reddit. Depth chart republished with permission of the author)
Scotty Stevenson reiterates how great a player Matt Todd is, even if he isn’t necessarily the best in the world:
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
17 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
17 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
17 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
17 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
17 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
17 Go to comments