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Is this the backline the Blues need to unleash to unravel their Super Rugby rivals?
The Blues have seemingly turned over a new leaf in 2020 and prior to Super Rugby’s suspension at the beginning of March, were sitting second in the New Zealand conference. When the new replacement competition Super Rugby Aotearoa kicks off in less than a month’s time, coach Leon MacDonald will be wanting his charges to continue where they left off but will also have to cope with having an influx of fit players.
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The Blues backline, in particular, has flourished this year with men like Joe Marchant and Mark Telea impressing in their debut Super season.
The wider Auckland region has never struggled for outside back talent and MacDonald, himself a former fullback, will have to make some tough decisions leading into the Blues’ opener against the Hurricanes on June 14.
Telea has had a breakout season on the left wing and could well be the only starting certainty in the whole backline. English import Marchant has impressed both in the midfield and on the right-hand side of the park but will face competition from the likes of Matt Duffie, Emoni Narawa and returning players Tanielu Tele’a and Caleb Clarke.
Tele’a has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury this year while Clarke was committed to the national sevens set-up.
Duffie and Narawa have both spent time in the 15 jersey in 2020 but Stephen Perofeta, who was once trumpeted as the future saviour of the Blues in the first five role, has found a home at the back of the park.
Of course, there’s also the arrival of Beauden Barrett to consider.
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MacDonald will have to decide whether Barrett is better employed at fullback, where’s he spent most of his recent test career, or at first five where he can probably have the most influence over the side.
If the season hadn’t been put on ice for so long then it may have been best to integrate the All Black slowly and start him in the fullback position where he would be free to focus primarily on his own game but the extended break may have changed MacDonald’s thinking.
Regardless, there will be some talented players who will miss out on starting and bench berths with Otere Black, Harry Plummer and Perofeta all genuine options in multiple jerseys.
Plummer, Marchant, Rieko Ioane and TJ Faiane have all clocked up minutes in the midfield but money will be on the latter pair to take the lead when the Hurricanes come to Auckland next month.
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While Ioane lost his place on the wing in the New Zealand backline to George Bridge and Seve Reece last year, he’s had a spring in his step in 2020 and will have new All Blacks head coach Ian Foster frothing at the possibility of shifting the 23-year-old into the midfield late in matches to blitz tiring defences.
Fainae, meanwhile, has been Mr Consistent for the Blues and has continued on from his fine showing in 2019.
That leaves just the halfback jersey, which will likely be entrusted to Sam Nock who looked sharper and sharper as the weeks passed in the original 2020 competition.
All Blacks star Beauden Barrett has returned from lockdown in peak condition as the Blues returned to training on Monday.https://t.co/ab6pa04I1k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 18, 2020
Finlay Christie’s return to full fitness could put Jonathan Ruru’s place on the bench under scrutiny too, despite the Auckland halfback being one of the fittest players in the squad.
Of course, the sheer intensity of derby after derby, week after week will mean that plenty of rotation is needed and you would expect almost everyone to get a run at some point.
The Blues will be wanting to continue the exceptional form that saw them win four matches in a row earlier in the year, which means Leon MacDonald has some big decisions to make ahead of the first round of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Possible backline for Blues’ opening game of Super Rugby Aotearoa: Sam Nock, Beauden Barrett, Mark Telea, TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Matt Duffie, Stephen Perofeta; Jonathan Ruru, Otere Black, Joe Marchant.
Comments on RugbyPass
You know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot 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.
25 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.
25 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.
25 Go to comments