The All Blacks' quiet achiever who is finally about to get recognition he deserves
By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald
For all of his consistent excellence, Matt Todd has never been to a World Cup.
Well, that’s not quite right. There was the curious case of him training against the All Blacks at the 2011 event after he happened to bring his boots to a holiday in Auckland when Richie McCaw couldn’t train due to the pain in his broken foot.
Todd was unofficial cover for McCaw in case the skipper broke down completely. But it was all done on a hush hush basis because World Cup regulations meant while McCaw remained as a squad member Todd couldn’t be officially welcomed or even stay in the same hotel; for him it was probably a bit like being invited to a party on the basis you entered through the back door and confined yourself to helping in the kitchen.
Now, though, after missing the World Cup in England and Wales four years ago, Todd is likely to get the red carpet treatment all the way on to the front end of the plane for the trip to Tokyo next month because, while Steve Hansen must cull four players from his current squad of 34 (allowing for the probable inclusion of currently injured Brodie Retallick), Todd, a 31-year-old who has never given up on his dream, is unlikely to be one of them.
He may lack a bit of size, and he was buffeted around at times when starting at openside flanker against the giant Springboks pack during the recent drawn test in Wellington, but Todd has the pace, durability and uncanny ability to make big interventions late in tests that will likely see him included in the final squad of 31.
Crucially, he is built for the game the All Blacks want to play; an up-tempo run-fest, because he has a diesel-like motor that can just keep going. His all-action performance for the Crusaders in the bruising Super Rugby final against the Jaguares in Christchurch early last month was extraordinary.
At the Cake Tin, Todd played 80 minutes, made all 14 of his tackles and offloaded twice. As a turnover expert and link player there are few better and his combinations with fellow Crusaders and key tacticians Kieran Read and Richie Mo’unga could be invaluable at the World Cup.
“I thought he played pretty good,” Hansen said of Todd’s contribution in his 18th test. It was just his fifth start.
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“He’s been an unfortunate player in some respects; he first made the All Blacks, got called in as a back-up for Richie in 2011, which is a long time ago.
“He’s been behind Richie, then Sam Cane and Ardie, but he’s always been reliable.
“And he’s always been a good performer every time he puts on the black jersey – tonight was another example of that.”
Todd, off to Japan on a full-time basis after the World Cup, will likely start at least two pool games as the All Blacks attempt to win their third in a row and will provide valuable cover for the rest should Hansen decide to start with a loose trio of Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Kieran Read for the bigger matches.
So, if Todd appears safe, who is most vulnerable should everyone remain available?
The selectors have already said they will take only four midfielders so one of Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown or Ngani Laumape will miss out.
Five props will be taken, which means bad news for one of the following: Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Angus Ta’avao, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli or Ofa Tuungafasi.
If Retallick comes back as expected, Jackson Hemopo, currently in the squad as a lock, will probably be considered a loose forward who can play lock and on that basis will be included, with Vaea Fifita or Luke Jacobson vulnerable, as are utility backs Braydon Ennor and Jordie Barrett.
Todd should be on his way. It has taken time for him to get the recognition he probably deserves but as the All Blacks attempt to set the piece in Japan he’ll be one of those on the front line.
This article first appeared in nzherald.co.nz and was republished again with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Ja, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’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.
6 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?
6 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.
7 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.
7 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.
7 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.
7 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
6 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 comments