'Who's going to be that Jerome Kaino': The All Black who 'must' start at blindside
Rugby World Cup winner Israel Dagg believes Shannon Frizell could be the new Jerome Kaino for the All Blacks, and explained why the Test regular “must” start at blindside flanker.
Frizell has been given regular minutes and opportunities throughout an up and down international season for the All Blacks, and has for the most part done the black jersey justice.
The Highlanders enforcer has become a mainstay of the All Blacks’ matchday squads, and has started four of the last six Tests in the No. 6 jersey.
While the All Blacks are always under some degree of pressure and scrutiny, New Zealanders were undoubtedly eager to see the men in black put on show in Cardiff last weekend.
And that’s exactly that they did.
While a number of players stood out in the 55-23 win, including record-breaking scrum half Aaron Smith, the new-look loose forward trio has been a popular topic of discussion.
Running out alongside Frizell was Dalton Papali’i at openside flanker, who replaced the injured Sam Cane, and world class Number Eight Ardie Savea.
All players appeared to play their roles to an elite level, which had former All Black Dagg comparing Frizell to an all-time great.
“Shannon at six, he is a must,” Dagg said on SENZ Mornings.
“We’ve been looking for, ‘who’s going to be that Jerome Kaino that comes in and adds that real oomph at the six position?’ He is our guy.
“He does all the hard work, he carries extremely well, he defends really (well), he’s another lineout option, he’s a big man so he’s a genuine lineout option there for Sammy Whitelock and Scotty Barrett.”
Captain Sam Cane will miss the rest of the Northern Tour after fracturing his cheekbone against Japan in Tokyo.
But the All Blacks have found a more than suitable replacement in Papali’i, who was one of the standout performers during the dominant win at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Aaron Smith became the most capped All Blacks back of all time over the weekend, with his 113th cap pushing him ahead of his former halves partner Dan Carter. #WALvNZL https://t.co/p6n5SbQiZK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 8, 2022
While the Blues flanker potentially has an opportunity during these final two Test matches to stake his claim for that coveted No. 7 jersey, Dagg believes the All Blacks have found their “top loose forward trio.”
“With Sammy Cane’s absence, and we never want an injury to play that part, but Dalton Papali’i really showcased his importance to this team,” he said.
“Not only over the ball and his defensive prowess, but his ability with the ball. Look at him when he made that big break.
“He’s got gas, he’s an actual, genuine ball player and that’s what you want from you loosies, not to be one dimension (but) to add something different.
“I think we’ve really cemented our probably top loose forward trio. Ardie Savea, just so, so good, don’t even need to talk about him anymore.
“But Dalton Papali’i really had his best performance in the black jersey.”
The All Blacks are on a five-Test winning streak at the moment, and will be looking to keep their unbeaten run alive when they visit Murrayfield to take on Scotland this weekend.
New Zealand will then finish their international season with a blockbuster against England at Twickenham, less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments