Steve Hansen reveals why he left uncapped Josh Ioane on the bench against Argentina
By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald
Highlanders first-five Josh Ioane was the only uncapped All Black in the match-day squad not to get a run against the Pumas in Buenos Aires because the coaches were wary about harming his development in the case of a defeat and subsequent public fallout.
Had Ioane, 24, run on to Estadio Jose Amalfitani in the final stages of the All Blacks‘ 20-16 victory the pressure on him would have been immense. His side had failed to score in the second half and faced an Argentine side enjoying all the momentum, territory and possession. In the end the visitors were perhaps fortunate to hold on.
So while the uncapped Luke Jacobson, Atu Moli and Braydon Ennor were used as second-half replacements (debutant wing Sevu Reece started), Ioane was left kicking his heels on the reserves bench but progressed regardless, according to coach Steve Hansen.
“He’s getting [an opportunity],” Hansen said after the All Blacks arrived in Wellington for the test against the Springboks on Saturday. “He’s here and people forget that – they think you have to play to get an opportunity. He’s learning a lot and we’ll put him out there when we think he’s ready to rock and roll.
“It wouldn’t have been fair to put him out – we lose the test match and everyone starts pointing fingers at a young kid because he’s steering the ship. We didn’t want that to happen so we didn’t put him on. When the time comes I’m sure from what we’ve seen last week and what we’ll see this week, eventually he’ll get a game.”
That is unlikely to be this Saturday, however, because Crusader Richie Mo’unga will come into contention for the No 10 jersey alongside Beauden Barrett, who was one of the All Blacks’ more impressive performers in a rusty collective effort last weekend.
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Barrett varied the All Black attack well, defended well, and, just as importantly in this World Cup year, was successful with all four attempts at goal.
After this weekend Hansen will trim his squad of 39 to 34 for the Bledisloe Cup series – the All Blacks play the Wallabies in Perth on August 10 and Auckland a week later – and Ioane is unlikely to make the cut for that either.
The selectors will need to be ruthless in their decision-making, with a hooker, at least one prop and perhaps two loose forwards cut, plus potentially another player as lock Scott Barrett, currently out with a broken hand, could be back in the frame.
“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before we name the next squad, which is in seven days,” Hansen said. “Things will become a lot clearer. Most of them (newcomers) have done themselves no harm at all.”
Hansen was not surprisingly wary about revealing too many of his plans ahead of the test against the Boks, the old enemy who pushed them extremely hard last year.
South Africa won the corresponding test 36-34 in Wellington last year before the All Blacks won another dramatic test in the return fixture in Johannesburg thanks to a try in the final minutes by Ardie Savea which was nervelessly converted by Mo’unga for a 32-30 success.
“We don’t name the team until Thursday and there’s no point in telling [coach] Rassie [Erasmus] what our team is, but he’s not stupid either, is he? He brought a group over [early], and you’d imagine most of them will play and we left a group at home and you’d imagine most of them will play too, but we’ll confirm that on Thursday.”
This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and was republished again with permission.
Watch – Michael Chieka fronts media in Brisbane:
Comments on RugbyPass
It’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
4 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
4 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
4 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to comments