The lucky men who may have sneaked their way into Ian Foster's first All Blacks squad
The All Blacks squad will be named at 11am today – and it will feature several new faces, including some of Super Rugby Aotearoa’s breakthrough young talents. Liam Napier reports.
Ian Foster’s new All Blacks era is expected to usher in a host of rookies and welcome the resurgence of several former test prospects.
Standout Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu and dynamic wing Caleb Clarke, Crusaders outside back Will Jordan and two rookie locks, along with the recall of Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua and Blues loose forward Akira Ioane, could be among the main talking points when Foster unveils his first squad this morning.
Despite ongoing uncertainty over when and where the All Blacks will play this year, Foster may name an extended squad of between 35 and 38 players which leaves plenty of room to groom prospects and, ideally, have cover three deep in most positions.
This year’s test schedule, including the Rugby Championship’s fate, is not expected to be finalised until next week.
The Herald understands Foster’s tenure will begin with two Bledisloe Cup matches against Dave Rennie’s Wallabies next month, though where those tests will take place remains uncertain. If the All Blacks open their campaign in Australia they may need additional cover outside their 35-man squad to safeguard against the challenges of replacing injured players when quarantine is required.
Selecting locks was always going to pose the major headache for Foster and fellow selectors John Plumtree and Grant Fox. Sam Whitelock and Patrick Tuipulotu are certainties but with Brodie Retallick absent on sabbatical and Scott Barrett working his way back to fitness, Foster needs to promote two test rookies.
While Crusaders lock Quinten Strange was unavailable for the North against South match because of a sternum injury, he may not be out of the frame for a potential All Blacks call-up.
Highlanders and Tasman lock Pari Pari Parkinson, considered a leading contender, is out with season-ending ankle surgery.
Crusaders lock Mitchell Dunshea and 20-year-old Chiefs prospect Tupou Vaa’i – the 1.98m, 118kg Wesley College product would be a serious bolter if included – will also contest the two vacant locking roles.
In the hotly-debated outside backs, the All Blacks may have room to select all their in-form talent, including breakout stars Clarke and Jordan. Both produced irresistible form during Super Rugby Aotearoa, with Jordan comfortable on the wing and at fullback while Clarke’s size and power adds a different dimension to options on the edge.
The All Blacks face a decision around their first five-eighth options. Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett will share the 10 jersey but the selectors may opt to include Damian McKenzie as floating back three and No 10 cover. That would leave talented playmaker Josh Ioane, who had a significant impact on the Highlanders after returning from injury late in their campaign, to continue his development in the Mitre 10 Cup with Otago, rather than sitting in the stands.
Sotutu’s speed off the back off the scrum, combined with his skill out of hand and off the boot, attracted global interest, including from the respective coaches of England and Fiji, before a knee injury sidelined him for the back end of the Blues campaign.
Now fit again, Sotutu is expected to be included in the stacked loose forwards, which may feature Akira Ioane’s rewarding recall.
The North Island couldn't seal the deal late on against the South, but that hasn't stopped some of their players from rating highly.https://t.co/0cI0hNLEBD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 5, 2020
Ioane is yet to make his test debut for the All Blacks, playing one match against the French XV in Lyon in 2017 before slipping well down the pecking order. His consistent defensive and work rate efforts for the Blues this season, and his improve mental outlook, elevated him back into the frame. This was reflected in his starting role at blindside flanker for the North team.
Shannon Frizell’s commanding physical presence for the Highlanders this season cannot be ignored, either, but if the All Blacks opt to select six loose forwards to ensure cover across all three roles, they could include three-test Blues flanker Dalton Papalii and Ioane alongside captain Sam Cane and Ardie Savea.
Such loose forward depth is reflected by the absence of Chiefs duo Luke Jacobson and Lachlan Boshier from the North squad.
Three years on from his two appearances for the All Blacks as a 20-year-old, Hurricanes hooker Aumua has launched his imposing presence back into contention after a superb Super Rugby season. Aumua’s selection to start for the North side is a nod to his dynamic abilities around the park and a maturing professional attitude.
Dane Coles’ niggly calf complaint may yet force the All Blacks to carry four hookers but Aumua is expected to be third choice.
Ngani Laumape’s fractured forearm removed the difficult midfield conundrum with all four contenders – Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane and one-test Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor – thought to be locked in, though Ennor will be sweating on the diagnosis of his knee after twisting it while tackling opposite Rieko Ioane and hobbling off 13 minutes into the North v South clash last night.
Rieko Ioane’s selection in the midfield, after impressing at centre for the Blues, signals where his long-term future lies after scoring 24 tries in 29 tests largely on the wing.
The front-row largely picks itself, with Blues prop Karl Tu’inukuafe’s resurgence expected to earn him a recall after missing last year’s World Cup squad following a viral meningitis illness.
Possible All Blacks squad
Forwards:
Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Tupou Vaa’i/Mitchell Dunshea, Quinten Strange, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Shannon Frizell.
Backs:
Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, Caleb Clarke, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments