The contenders to win an All Blacks call-up as Ian Foster announces planned super-sized Rugby Championship squad
It’s been less than a fortnight since Ian Foster named his first All Blacks squad, but New Zealand’s head coach is already planning on adding a further 10 to 11 players to his 35-man side for the Rugby Championship.
Quarantine restrictions upon arrival in Australia for the tournament would leave potential injury replacements in limbo if called upon throughout November and December, leading Foster to announce today that nearly a dozen players will travel with his original squad.
As a result, we have combed through a raft of players in line for a potential recall to an All Blacks squad that could feature as many as 46 men.
Liam Coltman (Otago)
Lineout inaccuracies have been the root of Liam Coltman’s demise from a World Cup hooker to back-up Highlanders rake in a matter of months.
Still, the eight-test veteran has plenty of experience to offer, and would be a suitable fourth-string hooker to support Codie Taylor, Dance Coles and Asafo Aumua.
Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon was impressive enough to keep Coltman benched this year, but at 32-years-old, he doesn’t have sights set on grabbing his first test cap, although Blues front rower Kurt Eklund could be an outside chance of beating Coltman to the punch.
Angus Ta’avao (Auckland)
Highlighted by Foster as one of two players – alongside Coltman – as the unluckiest to have missed out on the initial 35-man side, Australia’s Rugby Championship hosting rights acts as a gift-wrapped opportunity for Angus Ta’avao to win a recall.
Dropped from the national squad after making just three appearances since returning from a six-month quad injury, it seems the 14-test prop has the experience and versatility to be a solid back-up option to the likes of Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala and Joe Moody across the ditch.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1306047103202852865
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Southland)
With Brodie Retallick (sabbatical) and Scott Barrett (toe injury) both unavailable for the remainder of the year, Foster was forced to name two uncapped locks to accompany Patrick Tuipulotu and Sam Whitelock.
By naming uncapped starlets Quinten Strange and Tupou Vaa’i, Foster sprung a pair of surprises as he went without standout injured pair Pari Pari Parkinson and Josh Dickson.
However, the Highlanders locking partners, whose individual qualities made them creditable contenders for maiden All Blacks call-ups, might be usurped in the race for an international debut by their franchise teammate Manaaki Selby-Rickit.
Starring off the bench for the South Island in this month’s North v South clash, Selby-Rickit showed he has the raw athleticism to flourish in the future, and it wouldn’t be unfathomable to see the Southlander join Strange and Vaa’i as long-term development projects.
Scott Scrafton (Auckland)
Selby-Rickit’s biggest threat to a shock All Blacks call-up would seemingly be Auckland veteran Scott Scrafton.
In a move that would be indicative of how thin New Zealand’s lock stocks are, the 27-year-old may head the pecking order behind Tuipulotu, Whitelock, Strange and Vaa’i through his comparative wealth of experience that he can flex over Selby-Rickit.
Scrafton’s six years of provincial rugby and five Super Rugby seasons might be what Foster wants at his disposal in Australia, and that could make the 2m second rower one of the unlikeliest All Blacks selections since Brett Cameron played Japan two years ago.
Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
Wallabies boss Dave Rennie has made no secret that his former Chiefs star Lachlan Boshier was denied All Blacks selection as he lost out to fellow opensides Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Dalton Papalii.
His rich vein of form in Super Rugby this year could well be rewarded, though, with as many as two loose forwards thought to be added to the touring Rugby Championship squad.
If two further loose forwards are picked, one would assume one of those players would fill the role of a fetcher or pilferer, and given how well he’s played for the Chiefs, it would be harsh to rule Boshier out of an extended squad.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFLV8X9B5gP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Tom Sanders (Canterbury)
Who fills the alternate loose forward role as an enforcer-type player is more debatable, but there was plenty of praise for Tom Sanders’ efforts for the South Island a couple of weeks ago.
Playing at No. 8 yet equally adept at blindside flanker, the Cantabrian was a handful for the North, spurring some pundits to predict him as an outside shot to make Foster’s 35-man cut.
That didn’t come to fruition, but with nearly a dozen more players to come into the squad, it would be hard to imagine Sanders not coming into consideration.
Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (Hawke’s Bay)
More of a consistent standout than Sanders this year, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u was very unlucky to have missed the North squad considering how well he fared in Super Rugby.
One of the most improved players in the competition this year, the 23-year-old was a sensation off the back of the scrum for the Highlanders, dominating in various attacking statistics across the board.
Mikaele-Tu’u’s powerful ball-carrying has made his transition to fill the boots of Luke Whitelock much smoother than most would have anticipated, and for that reason the Hawke’s Bay product must be close to pushing Sanders for inclusion in the enlarged squad.
Finlay Christie (Tasman)
After years on the periphery of New Zealand Super Rugby squads, Finlay Christie finally enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Blues following his off-season switch from the Hurricanes.
Riding the Auckland franchise’s resurgent wave, the Scottish-born halfback was rewarded for his contribution to the Blues’ runners-up finish in Super Rugby Aotearoa by winning North v South honours with the South Island.
Being named alongside All Blacks incumbents Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Brad Weber in the match day squads is indicative of Christie’s standing in New Zealand’s halfback pecking order, and he would have to be among the leading candidates to support that trio if required.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Bay of Plenty)
Christie’s biggest obstacle in earning international selection is three-test All Black Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
Since his shock call-up to the national squad two years ago, the new Bay of Plenty recruit has struggled to overtake Weber in the Chiefs environment, with limited game time restricting him from building a case for a recall.
However, it’s that international experience that may make Tahuriorangi more favourable with the All Blacks selectors than Christie in what looms as a selection predicament in the ilk of Selby-Rickit v Scrafton at lock.
Josh Ioane (Otago)
Other than maybe Boshier, Highlanders playmaker Josh Ioane can be considered the unluckiest player to have missed out on selection a couple of weeks ago, contrary to what Foster said about Ta’avao and Coltman.
Being played out of position at the start of the year and carrying a niggling injury throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa hampered the 24-year-old’s chances of adding to his one test cap, but a blistering finish to the season from No. 10 catapulted him back into the conversation.
Add his pinpoint cross-kick to set-up Will Jordan’s match-winning try for the South into the mix, and you feel it’s only a matter of time, if not a few weeks, before Ioane is brought back into the All Blacks.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1303226375101317120
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
A breakout campaign for the Hurricanes and a broken forearm sustained by his franchise teammate Ngani Laumape has paved the way for Peter Umaga-Jensen to emerge on the precipice of All Blacks selection.
Starting the season as a prospective star for the future, the 22-year-old midfielder stepped up to the plate earlier than many first thought, impressing with a balance of tidy distribution and devastating ball-carrying.
His form yielded a North v South call-up, and while that wasn’t enough to force his way into the national squad the first time round, there are few who can demand selection based on form like Umaga-Jensen can.
Mark Telea (Tasman)
Speaking of breakout campaigns, Tasman speedster Mark Telea cannot be far off from joining the All Blacks outside backs after his stellar debut season with the Blues.
Springing up many a time on the right wing as part of an electric Blues backline, Telea was one of Super Rugby’s best rookies out there, and his inclusion in the North squad is a hint that the All Blacks selectors have taken note of his efforts thus far.
Even though he didn’t take to the field in that match, his try-scoring exploits might just be enough to warrant a place in the national camp.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause
6 Go to commentsNo way. If you are trying to picture New Zealand rugby with an All Blacks mindset, there have been two factors instrumental to the decline of NZ rugby to date. Those are the horror that the Blues have become and, probably more so, the fixture that the Crusaders became. I don’t think it was healthy to have one team so dominant for so long, both for lack of proper representation of players from outside that environment and on the over reliance on players from within it. If you are another international side, like Ireland for example, sure. You can copy paste something succinct from one level to the next and experience a huge increase in standards, but ultimately you will not be maximizing it, which is what you need to perform to the level the ABs do. Added to that is the apathy that develops in the whole game as a result of one sides dominance. NZ, Super, and Championship rugby should all experience a boom as a result of things balancing out. That said, there is a lot of bad news happening in NZ rugby recently, and I’m not sure the game can be handled well enough here to postpone the always-there feeling of inevitable decline of rugby.
6 Go to commentsNo SA supporter miss Super Rugby - a product that is experiencing significant head wind in ANZ - the competition from rival codes are intense, match attendance figures are at a historical low and the negativity of commentators such as Kirwan and Wilson have accelerated the downward spiral in NZ. After the next RWC in 2027 sponsors will follow Qantas and start leaving in droves.
2 Go to commentsLike others, I am not seeing the connection between this edition of the Crusaders and the All Blacks future prospects under Razor. I think the analysis of the Crusaders attack recently is helpful because Razor and his coaching team used to be able to slot new guys in to their systems and see them succeed. Several of Razor’s coaches are still there so it would be surprising if the current attack and set piece has been overhauled to a great extent - but based on that analysis, it may have been. Whether it is too many new guys due to injuries or retirement or a failure of current Crusaders systems is the main question to be answered imo. It doesn’t seem relevant for the ABs.
6 Go to commentsharry potter is set in stone. he creates stability and finishes well. exactly what schmidt likes. he’s the ben smith of australian rugby. i think it could quite easily be potter toole and kellaway for the foreseeable future.
5 Go to commentsThis is short sighted from Clayton if you ask me, smacks of too much preseason planning and no adaptability. What if DMac is out for a must win match, are they still only going to bring their best first five and playmaker on late in the game? Trusting the game to someone who wasn’t even part of planning (they would have had Trask pinned in as Jacomb preseason). Perhaps if the Crusaders were better they would not have done this, but either way imo you take this opportunity to play a guy you might need starting in a final rather than having their 12th game getting comfortable coming off the bench.
1 Go to commentsThanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.
21 Go to commentsWhat a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
6 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
5 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
7 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
2 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to comments