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'The future in the locking department' set to make All Blacks impact

By Tom Vinicombe
Josh Lord claims a high ball for the Chiefs during his debut campaign. (Photo by Brett Phibbs/Photosport)

The All Blacks have fielded some exceptional locking combinations in recent years – think Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, Whitelock and Brad Thorn, or Chris Jack and Ali Williams – and they’re set to unveil another one for the ages against the Eagles this weekend.

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While the return of Whitelock to the fore after missing New Zealand’s last five tests is a story in itself, all eyes will be on youngster Josh Lord, who is set to earn his test debut on Saturday despite having played just five matches for the Chiefs earlier this season.

With just four specialist locks in the squad and Retallick likely heading to Europe before this weekend’s encounter, given his heavy workload to date, just Whitelock, Tupou Vaa’i and Lord will remain in Maryland for the fixture with the USA.

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The panel of Ross Karl, Bryn Hall and James Parsons run their eyes over all the developments from the past week of rugby.

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The panel of Ross Karl, Bryn Hall and James Parsons run their eyes over all the developments from the past week of rugby.

Shannon Frizell – also only making his return to the squad in recent days – is likely seen as locking coverage and could have featured, were it not for an untimely injury suffered for Tasman in the NPC. His injury, however, paves the way for Lord to earn an unprecedented debut, likely off the bench.

The 21-year-old won’t be the only youngster in the engine room, however, with his Chiefs teammate Vaa’i also the same age.

Earlier in the week, 33-year-old Whitelock suggested that Lord was taking his elevation into the squad in his stride while forwards coach and selection John Plumtree has also commended the youngster’s quick acclimatisation to preparing for test rugby.

“There’ll be a lot to take in if he’s selected but certainly, knowing him for just the short time and knowing him through the conversations I’ve had with the other players, I don’t think it’s going to intimidate him,” Plumtree said.

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“He’s certainly showed me that he’s a good, smart youngster [and] he’s pretty switched onto the calling system.”

Despite Vaa’i also being relatively inexperienced, having only made his test debut last year and clocking up just seven appearances for the All Blacks to date, the young Chief has done what he can to bring his provincial and Super Rugby teammate up to speed.

“Tupou Vaa’i is taking him under his wing and teaching him and obviously Tups is pretty young in that regard as well but it’s nice to have both those boys that we see as being the future in the locking department there, working together,” said Plumtree.

“If Josh gets a start this week or comes off the bench, I’m sure he’s not going to let anyone down. He’s just a really natural athlete, good attitude, so a big future in front of him.”

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With Whitelock and Retallick both likely to call times on their test careers post the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, Vaa’i and Lord could be integral to the rebuilding that will need to take place following that tournament and while neither will necessarily feature in the biggest matches on the All Blacks’ horizons, the lessons they’ll learn simply from being a part of the squad could prove hugely beneficial for their careers.

While it’s still early days for the two Taranaki representatives, the pair undoubtedly have a big future.

For Vaa’i, Saturday’s match looms as a chance for last year’s test debutant to really stretch his legs, having spent most of the international season camped on the season, biding his time behind Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu, who have both returned to New Zealand.

For Lord, simply getting out on the field will be a massive achievement. Test debuts aren’t handed out easily, and the confidence the 21-year-old will gain from playing alongside one of the most capable second-rowers in the world in the form of Sam Whitelock will be an invaluable experience.

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J
Jon 50 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

34 Go to comments
j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

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

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks 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 comments
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