The men best placed to feature in an All Blacks development squad in 2022
While both the All Blacks and Maori All Blacks are now getting their seasons underway with upcoming fixtures against the touring Irish, there’s another New Zealand men’s side that’s waiting in the shadows.
In 2020, New Zealand Rugby announced the return of the second-tier All Blacks side – formerly known as New Zealand ‘A’ and the Junior All Blacks, but now rebranded as the All Blacks XV. Unlike the Junior All Blacks, however, the new side wouldn’t necessarily capture the eligibility of any players who don the jersey.
The All Blacks XV were set to play three matches during that year’s November window (just one game was officially announced, against Fiji in Vancouver) but with Covid curtailing the season and also complicating last year’s proceedings, the team has been sidelined ever since it was first revealed.
While nothing has been announced for 2022, NZR will undoubtedly be looking at ways to introduce the second-tier of New Zealand players to the world and it could be as early as this year’s Autumn Nations series that the All Blacks XV finally grabs some limelight.
Although the Maori All Blacks are currently in camp, it’s expected that the two sides won’t operate at the same time, meaning the All Blacks XV will always have access to the next-best players in the country, behind the men who make the top side.
Based on the squads that have already been named for July, which players from around NZ would likely feature in an All Blacks XV on a possible end-of-year tour?
Asafo Aumua is the sole hooker from last year’s All Blacks campaign to miss out on selection this year but is still likely considered the next cab off the ranks. Behind him, Kurt Eklund has had a stormer of a year for the Blues and was talked about in some circles as a potential bolter for the national side. Other options include young Chiefs rake Tyrone Thompson, who has stood out in his few Super Rugby Pacific appearances to date and has earned selection alongside Eklund in the Maori All Blacks side, while Brodie McAlister has impressed for the Crusaders and Soane Vikena has started his professional career off well with the Blues.
On the loosehead side of the scrum, jilted All Blacks Ethan de Groot and Alex Hodgman would form an excellent one-two punch while Ollie Norris came on in leaps and bounds for the Chiefs this season and possesses one of the best open-field games of any front-rower in NZ. Tyrel Lomax has missed out on national selection this season but will continue to develop with the Maori All Blacks and would be a likely starter in the No 3 jersey for the All Blacks XV while Crusaders youngsters Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell show plenty of promise.
In the second row, young Crusader Zach Gallagher certainly looks one for the future but may find himself sitting behind some more experienced options, such as teammate Quinten Strange. Isaia Walker-Leawere has made a massive contribution in the back-end of the season for the Hurricanes while Manaaki Selby-Rickit has caught the eyes of the selectors in the past thanks to his physicality around the park. Factor in the return of Patrick Tuipulotu – who might find it difficult to force his way past the current five locks selected in the All Blacks, and the second-tier side will be well served in the second row, ever before considering options such as Josh Dickson, Naitoa Ah Kuoi and the injured Mitch Dunshea.
With so many loose forwards playing the house down throughout Super Rugby Pacific, some top players are likely to miss out on selection even in the All Blacks XV. The likes of Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Cullen Grace and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u are all there or thereabouts when it comes to higher honours while Billy Harmon is probably ahead of Tom Christie and Du’Plessis Kirifi in the pecking order. Throw in utility forward Tom Robinson, who’s been an exceptional performer for the Blues for a number of years, and the All Blacks XV would be capable of competing with some of the top test nations in the loose forwards. Others, such as the Hurricanes duo of Devan Flanders and Brayden Iose also wouldn’t be far away.
Maori All Blacks halfbacks Brad Weber and TJ Perenara would be entrusted with the same duties for the second-tier NZ side but perhaps the national coaches would reconsider their pecking order, given that Finlay Christie and Folau Fakatava would also be able to play for the All Blacks XV but are ineligible for the Maori side. If the selectors are as much looking to the future of the national team as they are interested in the here and now then young Chiefs No 9 Cortez Ratima could grab the third spot in the squad – although others such as Mitch Drummond and Sam Nock would be there or thereabouts.
With Damian McKenzie back on deck later in the year, will Stephen Perofeta be able to hold his place in the All Blacks? Potentially not – but maybe Perofeta will be served by getting some game time under his belt with the second XV after spending a number of weeks in camp with the top side. Josh Ioane likely remains the next cab off the ranks but should he look to switch allegiances to Samoa in the near future, perhaps Aidan Morgan or Ruben Love could take his spot in the squad.
The probable starting Maori midfield of Bailyn Sullivan and Alex Nankivell would likely be redeployed into the All Blacks XV while Braydon Ennor would certainly also get a call-up. Upon Anton Lienert-Brown’s return from injury, it’s one of the current members of the national squad might have to make way, which could see Quinn Tupaea available for the ABs XV. A fit-again Thomas Umaga-Jensen would have to be close to the selection too, while his brother Peter will need to get some regular game time under his belt if he wants to advance his career.
That leaves the outside backs – where George Bridge would inevitably find himself alongside a host of younger talent such as Zarn Sullivan, Salesi Rayasi and AJ Lam. Add Mark Telea and Josh Moorby into the picture and other potential future stars like Connor Garden-Bachop will have to sit out.
There’s an understandable concern floating around New Zealand’s place in the test pecking order at present following a disappointing 2021 and while there are certainly positions that boast less depth than others, the sheer amount of talent that would be scattered throughout an All Blacks XV should quell any fears that the future is bleak.
Possible All Blacks XV:
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Kurt Eklund, Tyrone Thompson
Props: Ethan de Groot, Alex Hodgman, Ollie Norris, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell
Locks: Patrick Tuipulotu, Quinten Strange, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Manaaki Selby-Rickit
Loose forwards: Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Tom Robinson, Cullen Grace, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Billy Harmon
Halfbacks: Brad Weber, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima
First fives: Josh Ioane, Stephen Perofeta
Centres: Bailyn Sullivan, Alex Nankivell, Braydon Ennor, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs: George Bridge, Mark Telea, Zarn Sullivan, Salesi Rayasi, Josh Moorby, AJ Lam
Comments on RugbyPass
NZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
22 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
22 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
22 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
22 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks 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?
9 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.
9 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.
28 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 🤐
22 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….
28 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….
22 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….
90 Go to comments